Poland 2050 club in turmoil as MP Aleksandra Leo is removed from vice-chair position in disputed move.
Background of the Dispute
On Thursday around noon, an argument erupted in the Poland 2050 parliamentary club. According to our findings, the mandates of nine delegates (six MPs and three senators) to the party’s National Council expired on Wednesday. In response, some MPs, led by vice-chair Aleksandra Leo, initiated a fast-track procedure to fill these seats.
The club passed a resolution “to elect nine members of the National Council of Poland 2050” in an expedited manner, with MP Marcin Skonieczka announcing the decision on the X platform.
Disputing Leadership
However, sources report to Gazeta.pl that the procedure to fill the National Council seats was undertaken while club chairman Paweł Śliz was absent from the Sejm due to family reasons. In response, some MPs rejected the resolution, and Śliz removed Aleksandra Leo from her vice-chair position.
Bartosz Romowicz was appointed as first vice-chair, and Kamil Wnuk as second vice-chair. Romowicz accused Leo of attempting a “coup” behind Śliz’s back during a family emergency, calling it “mindless and heartless.” Wnuk added, “First, we are human beings,” expressing disappointment in Leo’s actions.
Defending the Actions
MPs supportive of Leo argue she acted within her rights and broke no laws. MP Ewa Szymanowska stated, “This was in accordance with the club’s regulations. Ola Leo, as vice-chair, had the right to pass a resolution to select individuals whose mandates had expired.” She added that Śliz had no grounds to remove Leo.
Szymanowska also questioned whether Romowicz and Wnuk’s behavior—posting internal matters on social media and shouting at colleagues—was appropriate.
Document Discrepancy
Interestingly, Śliz’s document about changes to the club’s presidium, dated January 21, appeared after Leo had already been leading club meetings on Wednesday. MPs sympathetic to Leo suggest the document may have been backdated, as she was never informed of her dismissal.
Leo herself stated she believed Śliz’s resolution was passed after the procedure to fill the National Council seats had already begun. She noted that Śliz had asked her to lead the club meeting as recently as the day before.
Broader Party Conflict
Thursday’s dispute is part of an ongoing conflict that emerged during internal elections several weeks ago. Two ministers advanced to the second round: Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz and Paulina Hennig-Kloska. Śliz supports the former, while Leo backs the latter.
The party is experiencing a power struggle as both factions compete for votes in the election rematch, scheduled for likely January 31. The initial second round on January 12 was invalidated due to technical voting system problems.
Leadership Appeal
Founder and current party leader Szymon Hołownia appealed for peace on Thursday, stating, “This is not an 18th-century noble assembly. This is Poland 2050.” He invited those wanting to engage in such politics to “other places not lacking on the political scene,” but clarified, “not with me.”
When asked, Hołownia acknowledged that Leo had overstepped her authority but appealed to both factions to “pull yourselves together.” Our information indicates that Hennig-Kloska, the Minister of Climate and Environment, has a better chance of winning, which may explain the nervousness among supporters of her rival, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy.