“Do you really think that cancer patients being turned away in Łódź, or patients sent away from gastroscopy or colonoscopy waiting lists, are concerned about whether there will be a barbecue or not, or whether there will be an association or not? I simply don’t deal with that. Taking this opportunity, I appeal to my colleagues from Law and Justice (PiS) – let’s all focus on Poland, not associations, because it’s completely pointless,” said Przemysław Czarnek, Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister, during today’s press conference while responding to a journalist’s question.
During today’s press conference, Law and Justice (PiS) MPs launched what they called a “counter of shame”, showing how many days have passed without the main figure in the scandal at Warsaw’s Southern Hospital, Dawid Kacprzyk, being questioned by prosecutors.
During the Q&A session with journalists, Przemysław Czarnek, Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister, was asked about political associations operating within the party.
“We are dealing with matters of the utmost importance. We are dealing with saving patients’ lives, with cancer patients being turned away, with the disgrace that crimes were allegedly committed at the Southern Hospital to the detriment of patients, yet no one has been questioned in the case. We are dealing with energy policy, with the ETS, with what Ursula von der Leyen is doing, and with Tusk’s international embarrassment over the ETS. We are dealing with the economy, spending many hours talking to miners and energy workers. We are dealing with fuel prices, which are soaring toward 8 zlotys per litre – and you’re asking me about some association? Do you really think that cancer patients being turned away in Łódź, or patients sent away from gastroscopy or colonoscopy waiting lists, are concerned about whether there will be a barbecue or not, or whether there will be an association or not?”
Czarnek replied: “I simply don’t deal with that. Taking this opportunity, I appeal to my colleagues from Law and Justice (PiS) – let’s all focus on Poland, not associations, because it’s completely pointless.”
Thursday marks the deadline set for members of the Law and Justice (PiS) parliamentary caucus to sign a declaration confirming that they do not belong to associations engaged in political activity. Those who fail to submit the declaration face expulsion from the party.
On Wednesday, Mateusz Morawiecki – former prime minister, deputy chairman of Law and Justice (PiS), and founder of the Rozwój Plus association – addressed the issue. He stated that he sees his political future within Law and Justice (PiS). Some politicians associated with Morawiecki’s faction have already submitted the required declarations.
On 31 July, the Rozwój Plus association plans to hold a public barbecue event in Warsaw. According to representatives of Law and Justice (PiS), the event was organized without informing the party leadership, making it one of the points of contention in the party’s internal dispute.