Resignation announced on X

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, minister of funds and regional policy and leader of Polska 2050, announced on 22 October that she is leaving the government. In a post on X she wrote that values mattered more to her than posts, and she left the party in the hands of its founder, Szymon Hołownia, a deputy speaker of the Sejm who had stepped away and then returned. None of her party colleagues, coalition partners or the prime minister had been told in advance. TVP Info reported that coalition politicians had described her as uncomfortable in the cabinet for weeks. Hołownia later said no formal documents had reached the chancellery or Polska 2050.

Two female candidates and the name to come

Tusk, who is on a visit to India, said he had two candidates for the post and would name the chosen one after his return. He declined to discuss the matter by phone. He added that he had thought she would at least call before leaving, and described her as politically very lost, though he did not expect this to affect the coalition's work.

“I have two candidates, two excellent ones. Both are women, very competent, and I will feel very safe.”

TVP Info reported that former deputy prime minister Elżbieta Bieńkowska is on the list of possible successors. Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski of KO, speaking on the programme 'Sejm Opolskiej', said he saw one candidate for the post, Bieńkowska. She led the infrastructure and development ministry in 2013 and 2014 and later became an EU commissioner, and she has not been in national politics for more than a decade.

Polska 2050 and the coalition

Hołownia told a press conference that Polska 2050 remains in the coalition and is not leaving it. He argued that the post was allotted to Polska 2050 under the division of responsibilities and should stay with the party. He said he has his own candidates and wants to discuss the post with Tusk after the prime minister returns from India. OKO.press reported that Hołownia did not signal a plan to run for party leader, though that could change, and that culture minister Marta Cienkowska may try to take over the party.

“We remain in Polska 2050, even when others leave.”

Opposition reaction and the Sejm vote

Przemysław Czarnek, PiS vice-chair, said at a press conference in Łowicz on 23 October that the departure was a huge crack in the government that could lead to early elections. He said PiS was open to cooperation with her and was talking with the two parts of Polska 2050. Czarnek's comments came after a Sejm vote on 22 October on a PSL bill, submitted in July 2025, that would have lifted the two-term limit for village heads, mayors and city presidents. The bill drew 213 votes in favour and 215 against, with 9 abstentions, and Czarnek said the result exposed further divisions in the ruling camp.

“I have no doubt that this is a huge crack in this government, one that may also lead to faster elections.”

For213

Against215

Abstained9

For

213 MPs

Against

215 MPs

Abstained

9 MPs

Data from the article text

What comes next

Tusk has said the name of the new minister will be announced after his return from India. Polska 2050 has said the seat should remain with the party under the coalition agreement, and Hołownia has said the two sides will talk once Tusk is back. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz's formal resignation had not reached the chancellery at the time of the reports.