Poland’s Centrum party emerges as MPs depart Poland 2050 following internal disputes and controversial meetings with opposition figures.
New Parliamentary Club Announced
Paulina Hennig-Kloska announced Thursday that members of the new Centrum parliamentary club plan to create “a space for people who would like to work closely with us.” She confirmed they will begin registering an association next week, calling it “a faster process,” with plans to register a political party “in the further course.”
Dispute Over Law and Justice Contacts
Hennig-Kloska stated that one key dividing line was “lack of space for cooperation with Law and Justice.” She and colleagues “were tired of making excuses” about whether Poland 2050 was a stable coalition partner. “There were more and more rumors about cooperation with PiS,” she added, claiming meetings with PiS MEP Adam Bielan marked “the beginning of divisions and disputes” within the party.
Controversial Meeting at Bielan’s
In July, journalists revealed that Poland 2050’s Marshal Szymon Hołownia attended an evening meeting at Bielan’s apartment, where PiS President Jarosław Kaczyński and Vice-Marshal Michał Kamiński also appeared. Hołownia later defended such meetings, stating he would continue talking with opposition leaders, though he admitted choosing meeting locations “more wisely” in the future.
Mass Departure from Poland 2050
Wednesday saw several MPs, including Hennig-Kloska, Ryszard Petru, Mirosław Suchoń and Aleksandra Leo, announce their departure from Poland 2050 to form the Centrum club. Hennig-Kloska criticized the party’s new chairwoman, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, for “lack of space for dialogue,” citing a recent national council meeting where the club was “simply stripped of subjectivity” through one-person decision-making.
Party Leadership Responds
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz accused departing MPs of “failing the biggest test of democracy” by not accepting “the choice of the democratic majority.” She defended Poland 2050 as “a distinct center” fighting for “the rights of the middle class” and “fair taxes,” contrasting with what she called the “large corporations” supported by the breakaway group.
