Shockwaves on the Polish Right: What is PiS, How Did it Change Poland, and What Does Its Split Mean

What is Law and Justice (PiS)?

Law and Justice (Polish: Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS) is a Polish political party founded in 2001 by twin brothers Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński. Ideologically, it combines three key elements.

First is social and moral conservatism: Deep roots in Catholic values, defense of the traditional family model, and resistance to progressive cultural changes.

Next - economic populism: An expansive welfare policy (including flagship cash transfer programs for families) alongside a strong state role in the economy.

And finally sovereignty and euroscepticism: PiS opposes deeper integration within the European Union, stands in defense of national sovereignty, and takes a critical stance toward Brussels' climate policies (the Green Deal).

For years, PiS functioned as a classic leader-centric party, with Jarosław Kaczyński wielding absolute power as the ultimate arbiter. Following the tragic death of his twin brother—Lech Kaczyński, President of the Republic of Poland from 2005 to 2010—in a plane crash near Smolensk, Russia, Jarosław ran for president in 2010 but lost. Since then, "Pan Prezes" (Mr. Chairman) has continuously led PiS, the Polish government during its years in power, and the broader conservative movement in Poland.

What Impact Did PiS Have on Poland and Europe?

In power from 2015 to 2023, PiS spearheaded a deep institutional and social transformation of the country, the effects of which are still felt today:

Judicial Reforms and the Conflict with the EU: PiS governments executed sweeping changes to the Constitutional Tribunal, the Supreme Court, and the common courts. According to the European Commission and international legal organizations, these changes violated the rule of law and judicial independence. This led to a multi-year, bitter dispute with Brussels, the freezing of EU funds, and financial penalties imposed on Poland.

A New Socio-Economic Model: PiS rejected the neoliberal economic model in favor of an active state role. Through broad social transfers, the party built a powerful voter base in smaller towns and rural areas, significantly reducing poverty while simultaneously driving up public spending and state ownership in the banking and energy sectors.

Foreign Policy and Response to the War in Ukraine: PiS forged alliances primarily with the United States (especially during Donald Trump's presidency) and within the Visegrád Group, frequently clashing with Berlin and Paris. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the PiS government emerged as one of Kyiv's most vocal defenders internationally and a regional leader in military and humanitarian assistance. Poland welcomed over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees. As early as March 15, 2022, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński traveled to Kyiv to hold talks with Ukrainian authorities.

These two figures would later end up at the very epicenter of the split within the party that was once thought to govern indefinitely.

Behind the Scenes: Causes of the Current Split

Losing power in the 2023 parliamentary elections to a pro-European coalition led by Donald Tusk—and the resulting political divide splitting the country nearly 50/50—exposed deep fractures within the party. Although PiS won 35.38% of the vote and technically came first nationwide, it lacked the coalition capacity to partner with other factions. As a result, PiS and Kaczyński lost control of the Sejm, the Senate, and the Council of Ministers. The situation was not significantly altered by the minimal victory (a 1.78 percentage point margin) of party-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki in the 2025 presidential election.

The central axis of the conflict became a rivalry between two competing visions for the future of the Polish right:

• The Moderate and Technocratic Faction: Centered around former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. They argue that to return to power, the party must win over voters in major cities, offer a modern economic development agenda, and soften its anti-EU rhetoric.

• The Hardline Faction ("Hawks" and the Old Guard): Ultra-conservative politicians directly aligned with Jarosław Kaczyński. They contend that the key to success lies in an uncompromising battle with the EU, defending traditional values, and competing directly with the far right for voters.

Escalating battles over succession as the leader ages (Jarosław Kaczyński is now 77) culminated in open breakaways and the creation of separate political initiatives. The PiS Chairman faced a choice: maintain a broad federated coalition (including Morawiecki's technocratic wing) or prioritize internal cohesion and ideological purity. Kaczyński chose the hardline path: he viewed Morawiecki’s initiative (the Rozwój Plus or "Development, Economy, Future" political association) as disloyalty and a direct threat to his authority, triggering an ultimatum and an eventual rupture. In a single day, PiS lost 40 MPs, three MEPs, and a senator, who all departed alongside Morawiecki.

Remaining alongside Kaczyński is primarily the "old guard" —politicians with a distinctly anti-EU, identity-driven, and social-populist outlook. Commentators note that PiS in this format is undergoing further ideological radicalization, adopting messaging increasingly close to fringe movements.

Leaving PiS forces the former Prime Minister Morawiecki into uncharted territory—building his own centre-right and technocratic movement. While the split weakens the right wing as a whole in the short term, over the long haul Morawiecki's formation could appeal to moderate urban voters (where PiS was historically unpopular) and gain coalition flexibility—something a radicalized PiS under Kaczyński has completely lost.

\## What Does This Split Mean for Upcoming Elections?

The rupture within PiS on the eve of a crucial electoral marathon carries far-reaching consequences:

Vote Fragmentation: Splitting the conservative vote across new factions makes securing a governing majority against the pro-European coalition significantly harder.

Radicalization of PiS: Abandoning the fight for the political center to outbid the far right risks trapping PiS within a limited voter ceiling (around 20–25%), effectively preventing it from governing alone again.

New Coalition Dynamics: The emergence of a technocratic Christian-democratic alternative creates an entity capable of forming entirely new political alliances in the future.

International Relations: Shifted priorities on the right offer long-term potential for more predictable, less confrontational relations between Poland and its NATO and EU partners.