PiS Loses Another Mayor as Tarnobrzeg Leader Joins Morawiecki’s Association

Tarnobrzeg Mayor Łukasz Nowak is set to leave PiS and join Mateusz Morawiecki’s Rozwój Plus association, becoming the third city mayor to make the switch amid ongoing internal party fractures.

Departure from PiS

Łukasz Nowak formally does not belong to PiS, but he was supported by the party in the local government elections. In 2014, residents elected him as a city councilor of Tarnobrzeg, and ten years later he assumed the position of mayor of that city. Now, he intends to resign from cooperation with PiS and join Mateusz Morawiecki’s Rozwój Plus association, as unofficially established by “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”. PiS is losing another mayor, Łukasz Nowak.

Growing List of Defections

Nowak is the third city mayor who may join Morawiecki’s initiative. Previously, this was done by the mayor of Kalisz Krystian Kisanowski, the mayor of Tomaszów Mazowiecki Marcin Witko, and the mayor of Sieradz Paweł Osiewała. However, the list is reportedly longer. “Every week we will announce some transition. Quite a few local government officials will leave PiS,” said a politician from Morawiecki’s entourage in an interview with “DGP”.

Focus on Regional Politicians

The politician reported that the desire to join Rozwój Plus has already been expressed by 4,000 politicians. However, members of the initiative do not want to accept too many MPs, because they may demand spots on electoral lists. “And we already have established number-one candidates in the regions,” a Rozwój Plus politician told “DGP”. Therefore, Morawiecki’s people are reportedly focusing on acquiring regional politicians, such as Mayor Nowak.

PiS Political Committee Ultimatum

The Presidium of the PiS Political Committee banned its members from participating in political organizations. This particularly applied to individuals who declared participation in the Rozwój Plus and Po pierwsze Polska associations. Politicians were therefore required to submit statements that they do not belong to them. The deadline for this passed on Thursday, July 23. Individuals who failed to do so faced “consequences provided for in the statute, including the loss of membership in PiS.”

Disciplinary Proceedings Initiated

Rafał Bochenek reported on Tuesday, July 28, that the “PiS Political Committee approved the list of [44 – ed.] individuals who did not submit on time or submitted in the wrong form the declaration of affiliation to Law and Justice required by the party leadership.” The matter was handed over to the PiS disciplinary prosecutor. According to the statute, if the disciplinary prosecutor submits a motion to punish the politicians to the Honorary Disciplinary Court, this body will be able to impose a penalty, acquit, or discontinue the proceedings. In the event of a penalty, the politicians will have seven days from the date of notification of the content of the ruling to appeal this decision.