Morawiecki resigns as ECR party president after expulsion from Poland's PiS

Resignation confirmed by aide

Mateusz Morawiecki resigned as president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party on Tuesday evening, a move his MEP Piotr Müller announced on X. Müller stated the resignation was submitted "in connection with the exclusion from Law and Justice" and in line with an earlier pledge Morawiecki had made.

“In connection with the exclusion from Law and Justice, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki submitted his resignation from the position of president of the European Conservatives and Reformists.”

ECR responds with regret

The ECR party issued a statement expressing deep regret at the decision, saying Morawiecki was stepping down "in order to fully focus on the political challenges facing Poland." The party said it fully respects his decision and expressed sincere gratitude for his leadership, commitment, and service. It added that it awaits further close cooperation with him in defence of their shared values. Acting president Carlo Fidanza has already taken the necessary steps following Morawiecki's decision, in accordance with the party statute.

“The ECR party learned with great regret of President Mateusz Morawiecki's decision to resign in order to fully focus on the political challenges facing Poland.”

What Morawiecki said beforehand

Morawiecki had foreshadowed the move on Monday evening in an interview with Kanal Zero. He said he intended to resign from the ECR leadership very quickly, unless he were asked to continue, in which case he would reconsider. He explained that the role of ECR president was assigned to the second-largest party within the ECR, which is PiS. Referring to his own association Rozwój Plus, he noted that any delegation it might form would not be the second-largest, and that in such situations it was proper to act honourably.

“I am the head of the ECR party. I intend to resign from this party. I will do it maybe even very quickly, unless I am asked to continue, then I will consider what next.”

Background to the PiS expulsion

An ultimatum set by the Law and Justice leadership expired at midnight the previous Thursday, requiring the party's parliamentarians to submit a declaration that they did not belong to associations conducting political activity, under threat of expulsion. The measure was aimed primarily at Morawiecki's association Rozwój Plus. On Friday, PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński stated that a group of party politicians had resigned their membership, knowing the consequences of not signing the declaration. On Tuesday from 5 p.m., the PiS Political Committee met to approve the expulsions.

Morawiecki's ECR presidency

Morawiecki was elected ECR party president by acclamation in early January 2025. His candidacy was put forward by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The ECR is a right-wing European political party whose members also include the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Sweden Democrats. The US Republican Party is a partner party of the ECR.