Poland’s 2050 party elects Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as chair after contentious vote, exposing deep rifts.
False Unity After Election
Following a contentious vote marred by weeks of disputes and voting system issues, Poland 2050 elected Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as its new chairperson. The repeated second round confirmed a near-even split: Pełczyńska-Nałęcz secured 350 votes against rival Paulina Hennig-Kloska’s 309.
In the immediate aftermath, both sides sought to calm tensions. They held a joint press conference in Warsaw, exchanged congratulations, and pledged cooperation. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz emphasized their combined 94% vote share, praising Hennig-Kloska as a formidable competitor, while Hennig-Kloska urged the new chair to address internal divisions and pursue unity.
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz proposed Hennig-Kloska join the party board, stressing the National Council would decide. She later announced her own nominations: Ewa Schädler as first vice-chair and Adam Rudawski as second vice-chair, while Robert Sitnik and Łukasz Osmalak retained their roles as secretary-general and treasurer.
Image Fiasco and Resentment
Hennig-Kloska’s supporters reacted negatively to the nominations, expecting her to be first vice-chair. They viewed the earlier proposal of shared leadership as merely a “election ploy.” One MP noted Schädler chairs the party in Wielkopolska – Hennig-Kloska’s region – calling the nomination a “confrontational gesture.”
Robert Sitnik’s appointment as secretary-general also drew criticism. Defenders of animals accuse him of failing to properly supervise a recently closed shelter in Sobolew where abuse allegedly occurred. Sitnik claimed he was misled by officials during inspections. An MP from the Left party sarcastically commented on his “new quality in politics,” while a Poland 2050 MP called it a “terrible image gaffe,” suggesting it stemmed from election debts.
Organizational Battles and Split Fears
Dissatisfaction with the new leader’s decisions has fueled speculation about an imminent party split. Opponents, including Ryszard Petru, reportedly fear expulsion. A party politician noted the split is certain, questioning whether it will result in “two clubs or one club and a circle.”
Disputes over the board composition, specifically the number of vice-chairs, are set to dominate the upcoming National Council and parliamentary club meetings. The statute is ambiguous, allowing between five and ten board members. Hennig-Kloska’s allies aim for five vice-chairs to balance factions, while Pełczyńska-Nałęcz’s team insists on four. Her faction already holds six seats on the board.
Ongoing Disputes
The role of party founder Szymon Hołownia, likely to join the board, remains undefined. Former leadership candidates Joanna Mucha and Rafał Kasprzyk may also join the new board; Ryszard Petru reportedly will not.
A separate dispute over MP Aleksandra Leo’s removal as first vice-chair of the parliamentary club is expected to resurface. Her supporters, including some MPs, plan to challenge the decision as unlawful, citing procedural issues and an antedated document by club head Paweł Śliz. Further complications surround the selection of delegates to the National Council.