PiS deadline passes: Morawiecki loyalists reject declaration, Kaczyński talks collapse

The deadline set by Law and Justice (PiS) leadership for its MPs to declare they do not belong to external political associations expired at midnight on 23 July 2026, deepening a rift between party chairman Jarosław Kaczyński and former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The ultimatum, issued by the party's Political Committee on 15 July, primarily targeted Morawiecki's "Rozwój Plus" (Development Plus) association, which he launched in April. MPs who failed to submit the declaration faced expulsion.

The failed meeting

On 23 July, Kaczyński and Morawiecki met at PiS headquarters on Nowogrodzka Street in Warsaw for over three hours, joined by secretary general Piotr Milowański and former minister Jacek Sasin. The talks ended around 15:00 without agreement. PiS spokesman Rafał Bochenek said Kaczyński offered compromises, including freezing Rozwój Plus until the parliamentary elections and transferring its activities to the party with full support. Morawiecki rejected the proposal.

The talks did not lead to a positive conclusion also because Vice-President Morawiecki did not agree to equal treatment of all MPs in the club, wanting to reserve special conditions for himself.

Bochenek added that Kaczyński himself had signed the required declaration. However, Morawiecki's allies argued that the proposed freeze amounted to liquidation. MEP Piotr Müller called it "in practice the liquidation of the association."

Public defiance

In the hours before the deadline, several MPs from the Morawiecki camp publicly announced they would not sign what they termed a "lojalka" (loyalty pledge). Müller wrote on X: "I am not leaving PiS. However, I will not be forced to sign loyalty pledges that close our party to voters." MP Anna Kwiecień said, "You want to remove me from my only party... my heart will break." MP Sylwester Tułajew published the form and declared he had been in PiS for over 25 years and would not sign.

I did not sign the loyalty pledge and will not sign. I have been in PiS for over 25 years. Always faithful; always loyal; always at your disposal and on command. Do not push me out and do not throw me out of my party.

Seven Lower Silesian MPs and one MEP from Rozwój Plus also refused to sign. MP Ireneusz Zyska said the party should focus on a broad right-wing front to defeat Donald Tusk's government in next year's elections, not on internal discipline.

Accusations and counter-claims

The meeting's aftermath sparked a public spat. Independent MP Marek Jakubiak, a Morawiecki supporter, claimed that Sasin "pushed himself in" and "spoiled the meeting." Sasin denied this, stating that Kaczyński had invited him. Journalist Michał Wróblewski reported that Sasin was invited without Morawiecki's knowledge to signal that Morawiecki was not on equal footing with the chairman.

Marek, why are you telling such nonsense, having no knowledge about it?... The host of the meeting was Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński and it was he who invited me.

Meanwhile, Bochenek and Müller clashed on social media over the interpretation of the compromise offer. Bochenek responded to Müller's comments with "Sad what you are doing."

Opposition reaction and next steps

The ruling Civic Coalition (KO) seized on the turmoil. Prime Minister Donald Tusk tweeted: "They fight for party unity so that no stone will be left standing." Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski quipped that he loved PiS so much he would like at least two. For KO, the infighting provided a respite from recent hospital scandals dominating the news.

They fight for party unity so that no stone will be left standing.

The party is expected to decide next week on the consequences for those who did not sign. As of the morning of 23 July, about 150 of the 186 PiS MPs had submitted the declaration, according to Sasin. The fate of the remaining members, including Morawiecki and his allies, now hangs in the balance.