Mateusz Morawiecki said that the Development Plus (Rozwój Plus) Association is intended to operate broadly, building cooperation with local government officials, entrepreneurs, young people, and all those milieus that today feel alienated by what he described as the sharp, radical current within Law and Justice (PiS). He also voiced bitter criticism of part of the party’s leadership.
On Saturday morning, the former prime minister appeared as a guest of Krzysztof Ziemiec on RMF FM. Asked at the outset why he does not have the courage to resign from PiS, he replied: “Poles are not interested in internal PiS matters. It’s sterile and extremely boring. People are dealing with real problems.”
Referring to the new initiative, he said:
“The Development Plus Association is consistent with PiS activities. It operates in the expert and substantive sphere, not the political one. We will continue it. […] I look into our statute and—in the context of the association—I see nothing inconsistent with the law or with the interests of the party.”
He added that on Monday he would hold a one-on-one meeting on the matter with the PiS leader, Jarosław Kaczyński.
Morawiecki was critical of the expansion of the party’s leadership circle:
“I have participated in Law and Justice leadership meetings from the very beginning. For the first five to seven years, nothing leaked from that leadership. The chairman led the committee, along with Prime Minister Beata Szydło, Mariusz Błaszczak, Joachim Brudziński, Piotr Gliński, Ryszard Terlecki, Marek Kuchciński… Back then, nothing leaked from PiS leaders’ meetings. Later, several people joined this group—perhaps individuals keen on stirring conflict and division… Perhaps it would be worth returning to the previous state.”
“I am, and will remain, in PiS. I want to contribute to removing this government from power,” he declared again.
As he argued, “PiS must have different sensibilities—different channels to reach voters.” The Development Plus Association, he said, is meant to function broadly in cooperation with local authorities, entrepreneurs, and young people, as well as with all those groups that currently feel disconnected from the party’s more hardline direction.
“I am completely calm about places on electoral lists for members of the Development Plus Association,” he added when asked about potential consequences for its members.
He also stated that “a year from now, at this time, I will still be in PiS.”