Blaming Morawiecki: Błaszczak Says Former PM Opposed F-35 Jets As PiS Infighting Deepens

Mutual accusations escalate within PiS as former defense minister Mariusz Błaszczak claims Mateusz Morawiecki opposed purchasing F-35 jets, while party leadership issues loyalty ultimatums.

Accusations Over the F-35 Purchase

– I had to break a barrier within our government as well, because Michał Dworczyk was against ordering F-35s, and Prime Minister Morawiecki was against it too. Only the leadership of Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński decided that we ordered F-35s in 2020 – said the former head of the Ministry of National Defense in PiS governments in an interview with TV Republika. – And here I would like to emphasize the enormous role of the chairman when it comes to creating the PiS government, Prime Minister Beata Szydło and Mateusz Morawiecki – he added.

Błaszczak also stated that Morawiecki decided to establish a new political party aimed “to the left, toward liberalism.” – This party is to be turned toward the left, to the left, toward liberalism. Meanwhile, Law and Justice voters have moved to the right side of the political scene – he said.

Fears of Deal-Making With the Ruling Coalition

In turn, PiS MP Kacpr Płażyński stated that the moves made by Morawiecki and his supporters may be related to a desire to reach an agreement with PO.

– I want to believe that the decision of some of our colleagues to go with Morawiecki stems from a poor assessment of the situation. I am afraid, however, that in a few cases it may also be about the desire to make a deal with the current authorities. In Pomerania, Morawiecki’s people have been cozying up to Platforma and, especially, to PSL for a long time – Płażyński commented on X.

Ultimatum and Internal Party Conflict

On Thursday at midnight, the deadline expired for the PiS leadership’s ultimatum requiring figures associated with Mateusz Morawiecki to submit declarations of “loyalty” to the party and Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński. The dispute over the role of factions within PiS is the culmination of growing tensions and competition over the future shape of the party.

The background to these events is the recent intensification of the conflict between supporters of Mateusz Morawiecki, known as “the scouts,” and the group gathered around Przemysław Czarnek, Jacek Sasin, Tobiasz Bocheński, and Patryk Jaki, called “the butter-makers.” Closer to the latter group are also politicians from the so-called PC covenant, associated with Jarosław Kaczyński, and the former Sovereign Poland faction.

Stowarzyszenia i Rywalizacja Frakcji

One of the reasons for the aggravation of the situation was the decision in March to designate Przemysław Czarnek as the PiS candidate for prime minister, which some party activists assessed as a clear strengthening of his environment. It was at this time that Morawiecki began building his own political base and established the “Rozwój Plus” association, which currently has about 44 PiS parliamentarians. Although it was officially supposed to serve program work and the activation of expert circles, some in the party interpreted it as an attempt to create an independent structure gathering supporters of the former prime minister.

Sharp Escalation and Ban on Political Associations

In response to Morawiecki’s actions, Jacek Sasin established the “Po pierwsze Polska” association, which he presented as an initiative for program work and strengthening PiS structures. Sasin’s association was seen as closer to the current PiS leadership and Kaczyński, while Morawiecki’s initiative is interpreted as an attempt to consolidate his supporters.

Following Kaczyński’s promises in April regarding an agreement with Morawiecki and basing PiS activities on “two lungs” through which the party would reach both centrist and radical voters, the dispute escalated sharply last week. The PiS leadership obliged its activists in a resolution—under threat of exclusion from the party—to resign from associations “conducting political activity” within the grouping, including “Rozwój Plus” and “Po pierwsze Polska”.