Gawkowski on PiS Split: Kaczyński Knows This Is a Real War

Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski commented on the deepening rift within PiS, stating that Jarosław Kaczyński has launched a vendetta and that there is no turning back for those leaving with Mateusz Morawiecki.

PiS Ultimatum and Exits

Last Thursday at midnight marked the deadline for an ultimatum issued by the PiS leadership to party politicians, requiring them to declare non-membership in associations conducting political activities under threat of expulsion. The directive targeted Mateusz Morawiecki’s “Rozwój Plus” association. On Friday, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński stated that a group of politicians had resigned from party membership rather than sign the declaration, with the PiS Political Committee set to approve the decision on Tuesday.

Gawkowski: PiS is Rotting from Within

Appearing on TVN24’s “Jeden na jeden” program, Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski described the situation as an “agony of PiS,” which he claims is quietly rotting as a political formation. He argued that Tuesday’s Political Committee meeting will mark the “end of a certain era,” adding that the party’s former government members were previously divided and fighting for positions rather than for Poland.

Accusations and the Role of Jacek Kurski

Gawkowski dismissed Kaczyński’s intentions, pointing to severe internal accusations where figures like Jacek Kurski are labeled as Tusk’s men or a fifth column. He noted that Kurski has now been “let off the leash” and that Kaczyński has initiated a vendetta with no prisoners left behind, ensuring that anyone who leaves with Morawiecki will never return to PiS.

Zero Trust in Morawiecki

While criticizing Morawiecki for following Kaczyński’s lead without objection while in power, Gawkowski stated that his trust in the former prime minister is also zero, as Morawiecki is simply fighting for his own interests. He warned that a future coalition involving the right wing, including Mentzen and Braun, poses a threat of a brown coalition aimed at EU withdrawal and authoritarianism.

The Collapse of Internal Negotiations

The PiS Political Committee Presidium officially banned members from participating in political associations like “Rozwój Plus” and “Po Pierwsze Polska,” giving them seven days to withdraw. While 40 MPs, one senator, and three MEPs left with Morawiecki after compromise efforts failed, party spokesperson Rafał Bochenek stated that talks broke down because Morawiecki demanded special operating conditions rather than equal treatment for all MPs. Conversely, Morawiecki maintained that he sought an agreement until the very end and gave guarantees that his association was never an alternative to PiS.