00:02Poland's right-wing law and justice opposition party splits ahead of crucial
00:072027 elections, leader Jarosław Kaczyński announced on Friday. Kaczyński said that more
00:14than 30 MPs have left the party following a bitter power struggle between him and former
00:20Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The conflict between the two leaders came to a head on Friday
00:26when Kaczyński expelled Morawiecki and about 36 MPs. They were removed because they refused
00:34to leave an internal PIS group that many saw as Morawiecki's attempt to build support for a
00:40breakaway party. Speaking on Friday, Kaczyński confirmed that, quote, it is all over. The
00:47dispute reflects a broader battle over the party's strategy after its 2023 election defeat. Kaczyński
00:55had steered PIS towards a more conservative course, while Morawiecki and his allies have
01:01argued the party should appeal to a broader center-right electorate to improve its chances
01:06of returning to power. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's governing coalition will hope that the
01:12breakup of its main political rival could weaken the opposition.
Comments