The election of the new leader of the Polska 2050 Party is not scheduled until January, but the campaign is already in full swing. Politicians are battling each other through media leaks and anonymous comments. Newsweek has attacked Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, calling her a “tsarina” incapable of teamwork. “I have the impression that I’m reading this kind of smear piece for about the fifteenth time,” wrote the minister of funds and regional policy on social media. Some media, however, claim that behind the scenes the elections are already being arranged and positions divided.
The elections in the Polska 2050 Party are the result of Szymon Hołownia’s decision to voluntarily step down from his post. It is known that the party will choose its new leader in January through a general vote. Currently, around 800 representatives of the Polska 2050 Party have voting rights. The pre-campaign is already underway in the media. So far, Ryszard Petru has publicly announced his candidacy, promising to renew the party.
“I believe that by returning to our roots, we can once again gain support of around 7–10 percent at the start, and that’s enough to, firstly, give us a chance to run as an independent group in the 2027 elections, and secondly, to give the whole coalition the perspective to continue governing,” said Ryszard Petru in an interview with PAP.
At the same time, there is an effort to eliminate his main rival, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz. Newsweek has joined the game, portraying her as a careerist who ruthlessly pushes her way through the party.
“Here’s my conclusion. Such smear pieces are a sign of weakness, not strength. Someone must really be looking for distractions. Otherwise, it’s hard to explain why anyone would publish so much low-grade propaganda about my modest self. And I nominate the author of this article for the honorable Jacek Kurski Award – the ‘Golden Hen,’” wrote Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on social media.
The weekly magazine suggests, however, that the Polska 2050 Party election will be merely a façade. Ultimately, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz is not expected to run. She is said to have reached an understanding with Paweł Śliz, the current head of the parliamentary club, with the bargaining chip being the preservation of existing positions. If Śliz became party leader, he would reportedly be replaced as head of the club by Ryszard Petru. Petru, however, denies any such arrangements.
“I would like to inform you that any speculation suggesting an agreement between potential candidates for the leadership of the Polska 2050 Party is false. I have not held and am not holding any talks about taking over the position of head of the club or any other. The decision on who will lead the Polska 2050 Party belongs solely to its members. I am running for leadership with the conviction that I know how to restore its strong public support and build lasting and efficient party structures,” wrote Ryszard Petru yesterday.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, minister of climate and environment, has not ruled out running for the leadership either. She previously competed with Pełczyńska-Nałęcz for the position of deputy prime minister in the government. For now, Hennig-Kloska is conducting an intensive media campaign and giving numerous interviews.