Law and Justice Party Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński spoke about the challenges faced by the United Right government during its 2019–2023 term at the party’s congress in Przysucha.
The 7th Congress of the Law and Justice (PiS) party has begun in Przysucha. Delegates are expected to elect, among other things, the party chairman. There are also plans to restructure decision-making bodies and open them up to a younger generation of politicians. After a video presentation that opened the congress, it was time for Jarosław Kaczyński’s speech. The PiS leader began by addressing the results of the October 15, 2023, elections.
Kaczyński spoke about the difficulties his government faced during its second term.
COVID and the Constitutional Tribunal’s abortion ruling
“COVID hit, and with it came massive responsibilities for the state. A tremendous effort was required, especially in healthcare and protecting the economy. We managed to safeguard our economy, but at a great cost—massive public spending,” said the Law and Justice chairman.
He emphasized that the government at the time listened to medical experts and made decisions based on their guidance. “There was no other way; there was no option to proceed differently. These decisions, though varied, involved certain restrictions and elements of compulsion,” he noted.
He admitted that some parts of society were unhappy with these measures, seeing them as restrictions on personal freedom. “This was a significant reason for a drop in support and the strengthening of forces to the right of us,” Kaczyński continued.
He also referenced “another issue that sparked a crisis”—the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling on abortion. Kaczyński stressed that the decision aligned with both the principles of protecting life and the Constitution.
“The Tribunal could not have ruled otherwise, but it triggered a major crisis—media attacks, growing vulgarity, and mass protests, especially among younger women. That undoubtedly contributed to a drop in our support. It plummeted around that time,” he said, noting that before these crises, PiS polling numbers had been around 45–47 percent.
Health contributions, war, and the visa issue
The opposition leader also listed other issues that negatively affected the government, such as changes to health contributions for entrepreneurs, the hybrid war led by Lukashenko and Putin, and the war in Ukraine.
“The other side attacked us viciously, condemning us completely. They spread fairy tales about people who supposedly traveled for six days!” Kaczyński said. “It was absurd, and yet such stories were circulated. And then came that infamous film, The Green Border.”
Kaczyński pointed out that after Russia invaded Ukraine, Polish society acted exemplary, and the government did everything it could to help. “Later things deteriorated—but not because of us. I won’t elaborate for various reasons. There came a time when we had to defend Polish agriculture. We had to demand proper burials for the victims of genocidal massacres in Volhynia and elsewhere,” he added.
“And that wasn’t the end of our troubles. Then came ‘Putinflation’, which hit every government. It was present everywhere, but especially severe in our part of Europe. That certainly didn’t help us. And finally, just as we were regaining ground—reaching 39.5 percent—we were hit by the completely fabricated ‘visa scandal’,” said Kaczyński.
“We won the election—we secured 194 seats—but we were still about 7 percent short of an outright majority. To be in a position to shape the Sejm differently, we needed about 5 percent more. The Polish People’s Party (PSL) rejected the proposal made by their own candidate for prime minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz—and that’s how we ended up where we are today,” he concluded.