Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party, has called for the resignation of several top party officials in preparation for the upcoming European elections.
Kaczyński has demanded the resignation of Professor Ryszard Legutko, Janusz Wojciechowski, and Gabriel Beszłej, with plans to replace them with Dominik Tarczyński and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. This move also strengthens Mateusz Morawiecki’s position within the party.
Among the changes, Andrzej Sadoś is set to replace Gabriel Beszłej as Secretary General of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) in the European Parliament.
Poland’s Conservatives Amid European and US Elections (Credits: Veridica)
Tarczyński, a journalist, will take over from Legutko as head of the PiS delegation in the European Parliament. Saryusz-Wolski, a former Vice President of the European Parliament and career diplomat, is rumored to be ECR’s candidate for President of the European Commission.
This reshuffle is seen as a strategic move by Kaczyński to counter the influence of Donald Tusk, who has been a prominent figure in the EU.
Tusk, a former Prime Minister of Poland and President of the European Council has been critical of PiS and has worked to undermine its legitimacy on the European stage.
The changes in PiS and ECR leadership also reflect a broader political strategy ahead of the US elections in November. Polish conservatives are seeking to strengthen their ties with Donald Trump and offer their support to him. If Trump is re-elected, this could lead to a closer relationship between Poland and the US.
Overall, these moves indicate that Polish conservatives, led by PiS, are looking to assert themselves more prominently in European politics. Kaczyński’s actions suggest that he is keen to ensure that Polish conservatives play a central role in shaping the future direction of the EU.
