Poland's Leading Opposition Party Grapples With Internal Divisions

WHO:

AP News - Law and Justice party, Jarosław Kaczyński (party leader), Mateusz Morawiecki (former prime minister), Donald Tusk (current prime minister), Piotr Müller (European Parliament lawmaker)

WHAT:

AP News - More than 30 lawmakers have effectively left the Law and Justice party.

AP News - Law and Justice has 186 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, the lower house of parliament.

AP News - A meeting between Kaczyński and Morawiecki failed to resolve their differences.

AP News - Kaczyński stated that the party’s political committee will meet on Tuesday to acknowledge the resignations.

AP News - Morawiecki stated that he and other members of his association haven’t yet discussed the formation of any new party.

WHERE:

AP News - Warsaw, Poland

WHEN:

AP News - A deadline for lawmakers to commit not to be members of other political associations expired Thursday night.

AP News - The party’s political committee will meet on Tuesday.

WHY:

AP News - Tensions within Law and Justice have simmered as a national election next year approaches.

AP News - The party faces a challenge from parties further to its right.

HOW:

AP News - Morawiecki set up an association called Development Plus, which many in the party view with suspicion.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 17:29 UTC)

In a significant political shift in Warsaw, Poland, more than 30 lawmakers have effectively left the Law and Justice party, which currently holds 186 seats in the 460-seat Sejm. Tensions have been escalating within the party as a national election approaches, and a meeting between party leader Jarosław Kaczyński and former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki failed to resolve their differences, prompting Kaczyński to announce that the party’s political committee will meet on Tuesday to address the resignations. Morawiecki has indicated that he and other members of his new association, Development Plus, have not yet discussed forming a new party, as they navigate the challenges posed by parties further to the right.