Poland’s conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) is pushing its party congress to October, but according to Polish news outlet Onet, Jarosław Kaczyński, the party leader, has a hidden motive for the move designed to weaken the youthful activists who are supposed to reinvigorate the party.
The congress of Law and Justice was to take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Przysusze (Mazowieckie Voivodeship). The event was to bring not only changes in party leadership, but also lead to the merger of PiS with the Sovereign Poland party.
According to PiS spokesman Rafał Bochenek, due to the post-flood situation in southwestern Poland and the involvement of parliamentarians, activists and supporters of the party in helping the flood victims, the management of the group decided to move the congress to Oct. 12.
Among the goals of the congress was the rejuvenation of various formations and getting some younger politicians on the board.
The Onet portal, however, says there is a second motive, and Jarosław Kaczyński decided to move the congress because he plans to weaken the group of so-called young activists that he views as a threat to his power.
Initially, members of the PiS executive committee were to be elected after the PiS congress, although the list of candidates is already finalized. It mainly included younger PiS politicians and some less recognizable deputies. This list was to include 15 names.
However, Onet says Kaczyński changed his mind and is now in favor of doubling the number of names from 15 to 30 young activists. The main reason is to paralyze this executive committee body, which in connection with such a large number of members will become indecisive.
Thus, the position of “young” will be strengthened only theoretically.
Party politicians and activists have long complained of Kaczyński’s stranglehold on the party, and blamed the last election loss in part due to his continued leadership. Many have lobbied for the older guard to cede some power to the youth to ensure the next line of PiS politicians is ready to take the reins should Kaczyński ever retire.
Currently, it is unknown how the new hierarchy in the party will form after the congress.
Onet further writes: “But that’s not all. There was also a chief council to which all current party vice presidents were to enter (except for Mariusz Błaszczak). This is where the faction’s struggle for positions began because it is not known who will be more important now. And this, for the life of a party, is really important.”
