A heated dispute erupted in Poland 2050’s parliamentary club Thursday as Vice-Chair Aleksandra Leo was removed from her position while attempting to fill expired mandates in the party’s National Council.
Procedure Triggered Without Club Chairman
On Thursday around noon, an argument occurred in the Polska 2050 parliamentary club. According to our findings, the mandates of nine club delegates (six MPs and three senators) to the party’s National Council expired on Wednesday. In this situation, some MPs, led by Vice-Chair Aleksandra Leo, decided to begin the procedure of filling the vacant seats in the National Council.
A resolution was passed in a circulating manner regarding “the election of nine members to the National Council” of Poland 2050. Information about the club’s decision was posted on X by MP Marcin Skonieczka.
Dismissal and Promotions
However, according to our sources speaking with Gazeta.pl, the procedure to fill the National Council was undertaken in the absence of the chairman of the Poland 2050 club, Paweł Śliz, who is absent from the Sejm on Thursday for family reasons, attending a funeral.
In this situation, some parliamentarians did not recognize the resolution, and MP Aleksandra Leo was removed from her position as vice-chair by Śliz’s decision. At the same time, another vice-chair, MP Bartosz Romowicz, became first vice-chair, and club secretary Kamil Wnuk became second vice-chair.
Accusations of Disloyalty
“Attempted coup in the Poland 2050 club. Aleksandra Leo, beyond her authority, tried to select the club’s representation to the National Council behind Paweł Śliz’s back. While Paweł Śliz is dealing with very sad family matters. Mindless and heartless. We did not go into politics like this,” wrote Bartosz Romowicz on X on Thursday.
“First and foremost, we are human beings. I’m sorry, Aleksandra Leo, that you are doing politics in this way and at this time,” added Kamil Wnuk on the same platform.
Defending the Procedure
According to MPs sympathetic to Aleksandra Leo, she did not break the law. There is also no question of any “coup.” “This was an action in accordance with the club’s regulations. Ola Leo, as vice-chair, had the right to pass a resolution to fill the positions in the National Council for those whose mandates had expired. All of this was legal, just as we agreed as a club. The fact that some colleagues didn’t like it and decided she didn’t have the right doesn’t change the fact that Ola Leo had the right,” emphasized MP Ewa Szymanowska in an interview with Gazeta.pl.
According to her, Chairman Śliz had no right to remove Aleksandra Leo. “The letter issued by Paweł Śliz should be withdrawn because there were no grounds to dismiss her. And if we are to act this way, let’s consider whether Bartosz Romowicz’s behavior, throwing internal club matters onto X, is appropriate and whether Kamil Wnuk’s behavior, who shouted at MP Petru during the plenary session yesterday, is appropriate,” added Szymanowska.
Dating Dispute
Interestingly, Paweł Śliz’s letter regarding changes to the club’s presidency, which Gazeta.pl also saw, is dated January 21. Meanwhile, according to our information, Aleksandra Leo was still leading club meetings as recently as Wednesday. “No one informed her of her dismissal, which suggests it was backdated,” we hear from MPs sympathetic to the dismissed vice-chair of the club.
Aleksandra Leo herself also believes that Śliz’s resolution was adopted on Thursday, after the procedure to fill the National Council had already been initiated. “Yesterday (Chairman Śliz – ed.) asked me to lead the club meeting and to represent him at the Senior Convention,” Leo told journalists in the Sejm. She added that she still sits on the club’s leadership. “We will sort this out,” she announced.
Broader Party Conflict
Thursday’s argument in Poland 2050 is one episode of a conflict that emerged several weeks ago during internal elections. In those elections, two ministers advanced to the second round: Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz and Paulina Hennig-Kloska. Paweł Śliz supports the first, while Aleksandra Leo supports the second. The party is therefore still in a power struggle competing to see who will ultimately collect more votes and win the electoral runoff, which will likely take place next Saturday (January 31).
For peace in the party, the founder and former leader of Poland 2050, Szymon Hołownia, appealed on Thursday. “Colleagues, this is not an 18th-century noble sejmik. This is not the TV series ‘1670.’ This is Poland 2050. And so if someone wants to make Poland 1670, I invite them to other places that are not lacking on the political scene, but this, sorry, is not with me,” Hołownia said in the Sejm on Thursday.
When asked for his assessment, he stated however that Aleksandra Leo had exceeded her authority. “But today I once again appeal to the two factions, to the parties of both candidates: come to your senses. Finally come to your senses,” said Hołownia.
