Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz was chosen as Poland 2050’s vice premier candidate after a tight vote, with just two decisive votes.
Close Vote Decides Candidate
During a Monday (September 29) meeting of the Poland 2050 parliamentary club, members voted to nominate Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz for vice premier. The vote was extremely close, with only two votes determining the outcome, according to TVN24. Some lawmakers, unhappy with her candidacy, reportedly urged Paulina Hennig-Kłoska to also run. “Pełczyńska-Nałęcz was shocked to have so few MPs supporting her,” a source told the station. The decision still requires approval from the National Council, with the final say resting with Donald Tusk.
Mixed Reactions Within the Party
Reports that Pełczyńska-Nałęcz would seek the vice premier role have circulated for some time, but party members have expressed skepticism. “There’s no consensus that she should be recommended for the position, but Szymon Hołownia insists on her,” a party representative told Onet. The portal noted that doubts stem from her past criticism of coalition partners and the government. “Hołownia insists on Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, yet she negotiated the coalition agreement. Why didn’t she include a vice premier rotation clause?” another source said.
Hołownia Steps Back from Leadership
On Saturday (September 27), during a press conference after a National Council meeting, Szymon Hołownia announced he would not seek re-election as party leader. “I enjoy finding stronger and wiser leaders, so I hope my colleagues will choose someone who can responsibly lead Poland 2050 to victory in 2027,” he said. According to Onet, Hołownia plans to leave his Sejm speaker role in mid-November to pursue a position at the UN. He is seeking the role of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which requires support from Polish authorities, including the president. To secure the nomination, Hołownia has reportedly been building ties with Karol Nawrocki and Jarosław Kaczyński. The final decision rests with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
