Sławomir Skwarek leaves Rozwój Plus to rejoin Law and Justice caucus

Sejm announcement

On 18 September 2026, Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński announced during a Sejm press conference that Member of Parliament Sławomir Skwarek returned to the PiS parliamentary club after a period in the breakaway group Rozwój Plus. Kaczyński, flanked by party lawmakers, shook Skwarek's hand and framed the return as an example for other defectors to reconsider their actions. He stated that the move demonstrated that alternative political projects on the right would not succeed in replacing the current governing coalition.

Deputy Skwarek is returning to us. And I hope that this decision, made deliberately, because the deputy is known for considering his decisions, will be an incentive for others to abandon these plans and political practice, because it leads to nothing.

Skwarek confirmed the switch, stating that he decided independently after observing political developments since April 2026. He clarified that his immediate step is rejoining the parliamentary caucus, while returning to formal party membership requires a separate procedural track.

I want to make it clear that nobody forced me to do this; it is my own decision. It was made entirely after reflection.

Parliamentary balance and voting

The transfer shifts the seat counts in the Sejm, reducing the Rozwój Plus parliamentary club to 40 members while increasing the PiS club to 147 members. The announcement followed a Sejm vote earlier on Friday regarding the selection of a Deputy Marshal of the Sejm.

In that vote, the parliamentary majority elected Marcin Horała of Rozwój Plus to the leadership post over PiS candidate Marcin Ociepa. Skwarek voted against Ociepa during the ballot immediately prior to appearing alongside Kaczyński to announce his departure from Rozwój Plus. Lawmakers such as Michał Woś reacted on social media by arguing that Rozwój Plus members voting alongside the governing coalition had pushed politicians to reconsider their allegiance.

Reaction within Rozwój Plus

Representatives of Rozwój Plus expressed surprise regarding Skwarek's departure from their newly formed caucus. Robert Gontarz, the spokesperson for the Rozwój Plus parliamentary club, indicated that leadership received no prior warning of the move.

We did not talk about him leaving. He assured us repeatedly that he would never break, that he would always be with us.

Gontarz stated that Rozwój Plus would not attack Skwarek, arguing that opposition groups should focus on their respective competencies rather than internal conflict. He also remarked that the intense work schedule within the new group could have proved difficult to sustain. Lawmaker Paweł Jabłoński stated to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that he wished Skwarek the best following the decision.

Background of the conservative split

Rozwój Plus formed in late July 2026 following an internal crisis within PiS led by former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. At the end of July, an ultimatum issued by Kaczyński expired, ordering lawmakers to resign from external political associations or face expulsion. More than 40 lawmakers loyal to Morawiecki, including Marcin Horała and Krzysztof Lipiec, declined to submit the required declarations and registered their own independent parliamentary club.

In early August 2026, Morawiecki announced plans to transform Rozwój Plus into an official political party no later than 15 October 2026, coinciding with the association's planned convention.