The Poland 2050 grouping is facing its most serious crisis since its inception. 15 MPs and 3 senators have left the formation, representing nearly half of its parliamentary representation. The splinter group has established a new parliamentary club named Centrum, while declaring continued support for Donald Tusk's government. The main reasons cited for the collapse are leadership errors by Szymon Hołownia and the failure in the presidential election.
Mass Departures from the Club
A total of 18 parliamentarians left Poland 2050, forming a new Centrum club, which paralyzes the existing structure of Szymon Hołownia.
Declaration of Government Support
Despite the split, both factions declare continued support for the government of Donald Tusk, calming sentiments within the October 15 coalition.
Image-Related Causes
Experts point to the leader's presidential defeat and the lack of a clear ideological profile as the main factors behind the grouping's collapse.
The political project of Szymon Hołownia faced an existential crisis after an official split occurred within the party ranks on February 18, 2026. A group of 15 MPs and 3 senators decided to leave the structures of Poland 2050, creating an independent parliamentary club named Centrum. Among those departing were key politicians, including Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Zalewski. The remaining MPs retained the original name, leading to a situation where two entities originating from the same root now function in the Sejm. Political science analyses indicate that the catalyst for the collapse was the humiliating defeat of Szymon Hołownia in the recent presidential election. Experts such as Prof. Andrzej Zybała assess that the party lost its main function, which was to elevate its leader to the highest office in the state. The lack of a clear program and escalating personal conflicts between Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz and Paulina Hennig-Kloska deepened the leader's internal isolation, with critics accusing him of lacking vision and succumbing to political hallucinations. Parties built around a single leader, like Ryszard Petru's Nowoczesna or Palikot's Movement in the past, have often struggled with the problem of durability after their first lost election campaign or a decline in the leader's poll ratings. „Poland 2050 is now two Polands of 1025, but Szymon Hołownia is to blame, who instead of vision had hallucinations.” — Mirosław Oczkoś Despite the internal catastrophe, the ruling coalition led by Donald Tusk appears to retain an arithmetic majority. Leaders of the newly formed Centrum club declared loyalty to the government on October 15. Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed confidence that, despite the divisions, a common front against the opposition will be maintained. However, opposition voices, supported by analyses from Prof. Adam Wielomski, suggest that destabilization of the coalition's third pillar could pave the way for snap elections, if Jarosław Kaczyński manages to exploit the current fractures. Number of parliamentarians after the split: Remaining in PL2050: 15, Centrum Club (splinter group): 18 18 — parliamentarians left the ranks of Poland 2050
Mentioned People
- Szymon Hołownia — Leader of Poland 2050, whose leadership was questioned after the election defeat.
- Paweł Zalewski — Deputy Minister of National Defense, who joined the splinter group from the Centrum club.
- Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz — Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, commenting on the coalition partner's situation.
- Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz — Minister of Funds, entangled in internal factional disputes.