Izabela Bodnar, a member of parliament for Poland 2050 and the party’s recent candidate in the Wrocław mayoral election, has announced her departure from the party. In a detailed statement posted on platform X, she explained that the decision had been “growing within her for a long time” and that the party’s direction no longer aligns with the values she stood for when running for the Sejm.
Party Politics No Longer Align with Her Values
On Tuesday afternoon, Izabela Bodnar published a statement on platform X, in which she announced her resignation from both Poland 2050 and its parliamentary group. This is yet another sign that things may not be going well within the party led by Speaker Szymon Hołownia.
“This decision, though difficult, has been maturing in me for quite some time. The political course taken by the leaders of Poland 2050 significantly diverges from the values I believe in and that we stood for during the elections. In my view, it is based on a fundamentally flawed strategy,”
she wrote.
Bodnar stated that she will remain in the Sejm as an independent MP. However, the tone of her message suggests it may only be a matter of time before she joins Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform. In justifying her departure, she criticized Hołownia for engaging in dialogue with all sides of the political spectrum—something she believes is not in line with responsible leadership.
“The party’s main message—fighting against ‘warring camps’ and polarization—places a false equivalence between the democratic Civic Coalition and the populist Law and Justice party, which has undermined democracy in Poland,”
the MP said sharply.
What’s Next for Poland 2050?
Szymon Hołownia’s party has recently come under fire from pro-government media. There are also reported attempts to fracture the Poland 2050 parliamentary group and lure away as many MPs as possible. This appears to be a reaction to Hołownia’s refusal to yield to pressure from Roman Giertych and Adam Bodnar. As Speaker of the Sejm, he proceeded—according to the Polish Constitution—to convene the National Assembly to receive the presidential oath from Karol Nawrocki.
Izabela Bodnar may not be the last MP tempted by the Civic Coalition.