PiS Prepares Strategy Shift as Przemysław Czarnek Set to Lose Key Role

Law and Justice is reportedly preparing a shift in its political strategy ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, with decisions underway regarding its potential prime ministerial candidate and internal party dynamics.

Strategy Shift Ahead of Elections

PiS is reportedly preparing a change in its political strategy before the next parliamentary elections. According to „Rzeczpospolita”, a decision has already been made within Jarosław Kaczyński’s inner circle to move away from the concept of having Przemysław Czarnek as the party’s candidate for prime minister, with two new names emerging in the mix.

„Rzeczpospolita” describes growing dissatisfaction with the previous political project associated with Przemysław Czarnek. Earlier, the former education minister was considered one of PiS’s top candidates for future head of government and a politician capable of mobilizing the most right-wing electorate.

Contenders for Prime Minister

The situation is now said to look different. According to the newspaper’s information, the PiS leadership is determined to change the candidate. The final name has not yet been decided, but Zbigniew Bogucki and Tobiasz Bocheński are the strongest considerations.

Higher chances are attributed to Bogucki, the current head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. However, such a choice would mean needing to take into account the stance of Karol Nawrocki. Meanwhile, Bocheński, an MEP and former Masovian voivode, is reportedly viewed by some PiS politicians as less distinct.

Mateusz Morawiecki Alters the Right-Wing Power Balance

The PiS problem is not limited to finding a suitable prime minister candidate. A much more serious challenge is the political activity of Mateusz Morawiecki and the Rozwój Plus environment gathered around him.

The former prime minister remains formally tied to PiS, but his initiative increasingly functions as a separate political center. Recent polls show it can realistically impact the party of Jarosław Kaczyński. An SW Research poll for rp.pl indicated that 37.8 percent of respondents believed Morawiecki’s potential party would have a chance to enter the Sejm.

Forecasts described by Onet show the problem even more strongly. Rozwój Plus may draw voters primarily away from PiS, altering the current balance of power on the right side of the political scene. At the same time, Morawiecki’s potential electorate does not necessarily come exclusively from the current Law and Justice base, as his environment also counts on center voters, the former Third Way, and undecided individuals.

Navigating Relations with Morawiecki

According to „Rzeczpospolita”, the conviction that an open war with Morawiecki would be politically risky is growing stronger in Jarosław Kaczyński’s surroundings. In the future, both environments may need each other to form a parliamentary majority.

There is also a fear within PiS of an excessive shift of the party toward the environment centered around Patryk Jagi. Internal discussions feature the term „jakization” of PiS, referring to the growth of influence of former Sovereign Poland politicians and a decidedly confrontational course toward Morawiecki.

Jarosław Kaczyński himself responded very harshly in public to the former prime minister in recent days. As Onet reported, the PiS leader accused Morawiecki of shifting his primary opponent in recent statements away from Donald Tusk and toward Kaczyński and Law and Justice.

Broader Strategy and Candidate Prospects

The change of the prime minister candidate may thus be part of a much larger strategy correction. PiS must simultaneously retain its own voters, compete with Confederation and Grzegorz Braun’s grouping, and limit the outflow of the moderate electorate to Morawiecki’s environment.

In this arrangement, Bogucki’s candidacy would give PiS an additional asset in the form of a close connection with the Presidential Palace. Bocheński, on the other hand, would represent generational change, but—according to „Rzeczpospolita” interviewees—his political recognition and distinctiveness are rated lower.

According to the newspaper, the decision to abandon Czarnek’s candidacy is practically finalized. The main unknowns remain whom Kaczyński will ultimately designate and how much influence the development of Morawiecki’s project will have on the future PiS strategy.