Internal Strife in PiS: Public Clash Between Buda and Bochenek Highlights Fallout From Morawiecki Association Split

Following an ultimatum regarding political associations, a public exchange between PiS politicians Waldemar Buda and Rafał Bochenek on X highlights ongoing internal divisions within the party.

Public Exchange on X Between Buda and Bochenek

“The PiS club is withdrawing its representatives from television programs if representatives of the Rozwój Plus association also participate,” announced Waldemar Buda on X on Friday, July 24. Party spokesperson Rafał Bochenek responded to his post.

“Waldek, take it easy, relax already and stop lying. We will not participate in programs when, for example, TVN or government TVP will want to provocatively seat us one-on-one opposite each other, boosting their viewership at our expense. In broader debates, we always will, provided we receive an invitation. Remember, PiS is not the enemy. Keep acting and building the association. Good luck,” he wrote.

Adrian Borecki from Republika television joined the discussion. “Mr. Spokesperson, in that case, I hope that tomorrow at 18:00 an invited PiS politician will appear on the program. Participation in the program has so far been confirmed: Piotr Müller, Michał Wawer, Kamil Wnuk. I am counting on a representative from PiS,” we read.

Ultimatum and Departures From PiS

On July 15, the PiS presidium adopted a resolution regarding the “ban on activity and participation of party members in associations, foundations and other organizations of a political nature.” As PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek stated, the decision concerns, among others, Mateusz Morawiecki’s Rozwój Plus organization and Jacek Sasin’s Po pierwsze Polska. Their members had seven days to resign from the organizations’ ranks.

Sasin’s association subordinated itself to the will of the party authorities. However, Morawiecki announced that Rozwój Plus would continue its activities.

At midnight from Thursday to Friday (July 24), the deadline of the ultimatum set by the PiS leadership for parliamentarians to submit declarations of non-membership in associations expired. Failure to submit such a declaration was to result in expulsion from the party.

Mass Resignations and Future of the Group

On Friday (July 24) at noon, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński announced that “thirty-odd MPs resigned from membership” in the party. He added that the decision “will be confirmed” next week by the PiS Political Committee.

Shortly afterwards, Morawiecki specified that 40 MPs, a senator, and three MEPs belong to Rozwój Plus. He did not want to talk for now about plans to create a new club or a new party. “We must discuss all plans. Do not ask about a club today, do not ask about a party,” the former prime minister said briefly.

Technically, however, Morawiecki will be able to create a new parliamentary club—15 people are enough for that—as well as field his own candidate for the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm.

Kaczyński on Morawiecki’s Ambitions and Succession

Morawiecki argued that until the very end he wanted to act within PiS and based on the “two lungs” strategy of the party. He also stated that “he is one of the most loyal members of Law and Justice.”

On Friday (July 24), Kaczyński said on Republika television that during a direct conversation with Morawiecki, he offered him the position of prime minister. As he reported, the politician replied that he perfectly understands where power comes from, and his ambition is to take over the party.

The PiS leader also stressed that Jacek Sasin immediately dissolved his association. “If Mateusz Morawiecki had also done this, he would be a very important today—I will say it again: very important, more than very important—name in our party, and of course one of those who at the moment when I leave could be serious candidates to replace me,” Kaczyński stated.