Janusz Kowalski and Szymon Szynkowski vel Sék publicly clash over PiS strategy and leadership, exposing deep divisions within the party.
Kowalski’s Criticism of PiS EU Stance
Janusz Kowalski commented on February 4 regarding a survey by Ogólnopolska Grupa Badawcza, which showed 46.4% of PiS voters support remaining in the EU while 43.6% are against. Kowalski stated, “This research confirms what I said in 2019-2021 during the dispute on the right about Poland’s policy towards the EU. Unfortunately for Poland, at that time I was 100% right in predicting the dangers that became reality. Without an assertive policy to defend Polish interests, the number of Polexit supporters will grow rapidly.”
Kowalski added, “Conclusion? A hard binary agenda for PiS in 2027.” He emphasized that PiS should adopt an “all hands on deck” approach, suggesting a return to the sources of success from 2019, no infighting on the right, a Senate pact with Konfederacja, discussions focused on policy rather than personal attacks, showing completely new faces regarding Poland’s EU policy, a return to coal, and common sense energy policy.
Szynkowski vel Sék’s Response
Szymon Szynkowski vel Sék commented on Kowalski’s post, writing, “Friend! We’ve known each other for 25 years, more than half my life. I like you very much, but I also know your character a bit, so I smile as I watch you once again announce that ‘you were 100% right’ and unilaterally establish a broad program strategy for PiS (while program discussions are just beginning) along with your preferred team for its implementation. Someone less informed might think this is actually a proposed program and government composition, whose leader modestly you don’t declare yourself to be.”
Szynkowski vel Sék added, “That’s why I’m quick to clarify that the leader of our formation responsible for strategy and program is President Jarosław Kaczyński, whom you inexplicably omitted in your X analysis. It is the party president who began program work, which continues and will conclude with the party program before the 2027 elections, and today our main task is to get involved in it.”
Intra-Party Tensions in PiS
In recent days, Law and Justice has seen a series of public confrontations between leading politicians. The spark was the detention of an employee of the Ministry of National Defense suspected of espionage. Michał Dworczyk warned in the media that the situation could mean serious losses to national security. Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak argued that the situation was deliberately exaggerated and used for political attacks on the previous government.
Against a backdrop of growing tensions, speculation has also emerged about future leadership in PiS. On Wednesday, former assets minister Jacek Sasin announced that the group would present its candidate for prime minister this spring. He simultaneously excluded Andrzej Duda and Mateusz Morawiecki as candidates, noting that the party does not want voters to “buy a pig in a poke.” In response, the former prime minister wrote on platform X: “PS. Jack, since the kingmaker instinct awakens in you again, I have two words: Podlaskie sejmik.”
