Mateusz Morawiecki Launches Rozwój Plus Association Amid Growing Tensions Within PiS

Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki confirmed on Wednesday evening that he had founded the Rozwój Plus association, drawing in nearly 40 politicians associated with Law and Justice, including former ministers Michał Dworczyk, Janusz Cieszyński, Marcin Horała, Piotr Müller, and former parliamentary club chairman Ryszard Terlecki. The move immediately triggered a sharp response from PiS leadership, with party spokesperson Rafał Bochenek declaring that associations built on parliamentarians and party members are harmful and serve the interests of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. According to reporting by Patryk Michalski, Jarosław Kaczyński met with his closest associates and announced that PiS politicians who join Morawiecki's association will not find a place on future electoral lists. The association's stated goal, as explained by Morawiecki himself, is to create additional space for dialogue, exchange of experiences, and activities supporting Poland's social and economic development. Kaczyński summoned PiS parliamentarians via SMS on Wednesday evening, according to information provided by Wirtualna Polska, and a leadership conference was scheduled for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the party's headquarters on Nowogrodzka Street in Warsaw.

PiS leadership calls the initiative a gift to Tusk PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek issued an unequivocal statement condemning the new initiative, framing it as a threat to party unity at a critical moment. „We do not deny anyone the right to create associations, but they cannot be associations based on parliamentarians or party members. An association created in such a formula would certainly be harmful to the entire environment, leading to its disintegration. Such an initiative would fit into the plans and various types of intrigues of Tusk and his people, because they are the ones who want to break us up. Today is the time for Polish patriots to unite around our candidate for prime minister, Przemysław Czarnek” — Rafał Bochenek via Fakt Former Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek echoed this criticism in an emotional post addressed to "dear patriots," stating that "this is not the time for egoism and factionalism" and warning that anyone who "seeks enemies on the right" and "places his interest above the good of Poland" would find neither his support nor approval. The head of publishers at Telewizja Republika, Jarosław Olechowski, reported on the X platform that "terrified PiS MPs from Morawiecki's list" were calling him to explain that they had joined the association before Kaczyński threatened consequences. Olechowski also noted that the acceleration of work on establishing Rozwój Plus was linked to media reports that prosecutors intend to bring charges against Morawiecki in connection with the Government Strategic Reserves Agency. Krzysztof Szczucki, who appeared on the published list of association members, is currently suspended from PiS membership.

Supporters say association targets centrist voters PiS abandoned Politicians aligned with Morawiecki's faction defended the initiative in public statements, arguing it serves the broader goals of the Polish right. „Co-creating initiatives that unite Polish patriots for the development of Poland is an honor, but also a pleasure — and I already have some experience in this” — Marcin Horała via TVN24 MEP Michał Dworczyk wrote on social media that "broad dialogue is the only way to get out of the Polish-Polish war" and called it "an honor to be among the founding members of the association." MP Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk argued that defeating Donald Tusk "requires various modern formulas that realize the patriotic goals of an ambitious Poland," describing Rozwój Plus as exactly such a space. PiS MEP Beata Szydło, a former prime minister and party vice-president, took a more measured stance, telling Radio Zet that she did not believe Morawiecki intended to leave PiS and saw no reason for his expulsion, while simultaneously cautioning that the new initiative "cannot be treated as a springboard that is intended to lead to the breakup of the grouping." „Every initiative that expands support for us is a supplement to our programmatic work and should be created” — Beata Szydło via Radio Zet Szydło also opened the door to future coalition talks with the Polish People's Party, saying PiS could "talk with the people's party members about potentially forming a government" after winning elections, and noting that PSL leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz had no difficulty sharing a debate stage with Morawiecki.

Opposition politician reads Morawiecki's move as bid for the center Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski of PSL offered an outside perspective on the internal PiS turmoil, interpreting Morawiecki's move as a deliberate political repositioning rather than a simple organizational exercise. „It is an undermining of the omnipotent position of Jarosław Kaczyński in Law and Justice, de facto the creator and leader of this party, who today must face the fact that this is no longer just a faction, but perhaps also a new political project” — Piotr Zgorzelski via Polsat News Zgorzelski argued that PiS had effectively ceded the political center by moving rightward, and that Morawiecki was "cleverly entering" the space left behind. He predicted that Kaczyński, as a "seasoned politician," would avoid expelling Morawiecki outright, knowing that doing so would benefit the former prime minister politically, and instead anticipated "a few more laps, a few pirouettes around this whole event." Zgorzelski ruled out any near-term cooperation between PSL and Morawiecki, noting that PSL remains part of the current governing coalition and intends to contest elections independently. Newsweek Polska reported, citing unnamed sources within PiS, that Morawiecki — with the help of former ally Adam Bielan — had built contacts in MAGA political circles and secured funding for an election campaign, potentially sufficient to force Kaczyński into negotiations even without a realistic path to outright victory. 38 (members) — politicians reportedly joining Rozwój Plus association at founding