I would be very happy if it was Mariusz Błaszczak – this is how the president of Law and Justice answered the question of who could replace him. The topic of leadership in PiS returns once again. Once again at a difficult time for the party.
This is not the first time, during a difficult time for Law and Justice, that the PiS chairman himself has raised the issue of party leadership. But it is the first time that he has so clearly indicated his successor.
This time, in an interview for Radio Maryja, he admits that it was his idea and that he would be very happy if Mariusz Błaszczak replaced him as chairman. Kaczyński added that it is not a directive from the party's senior, but it would be the most reasonable decision of the congress.
– Mariusz Błaszczak has as many political qualities as Jarosław Kaczyński gives him. Therefore, from the point of view of Jarosław Kaczyński's interest in ruling the party when he ceases to be its leader, Mariusz Błaszczak is such an obvious candidate – comments Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska, MP of the Civic Platform.
What is Błaszczak's strength?
Mariusz Błaszczak has been close to the president for years. Despite – or perhaps because of – the fact that he does not create any faction of his own in Law and Justice and does not belong to any. His strength is his almost boundless devotion to the president, for which in return he has enjoyed the highest trust of Kaczyński for years.
– I am convinced that if we governed, this gentleman would be the president – said the chairman of Law and Justice, Jarosław Kaczyński, on August 10.
Law and Justice is already hearing loud praise for Błaszczak. – He is an excellent candidate for practically all positions in the country – assesses Bartłomiej Wróblewski, a member of parliament for Law and Justice. The coalition partner applauds. – He is a wise, experienced politician and I think that many will agree with my opinion – says Michał Wójcik, a member of parliament for Sovereign Poland.
Many will disagree. There are leaders in Law and Justice who simply can't stand Błaszczak and are eager to take over Kaczyński's legacy. Few, however, have the courage to say it out loud.
– I was the spokesman for Law and Justice and I was responsible for the so-called media messages, i.e. for briefs, for what Law and Justice politicians said, Mariusz Błaszczak was always such a top student and he repeated word for word what I wrote for him to repeat and these were probably the last wise words that Chairman Błaszczak said – commented on July 8 Marcin Mastalerek, head of the president's office.
The party's future is uncertain
The Law and Justice congress is to be held in September. That is when the board is to undergo changes. Several younger party activists are to join its ranks. The older ones will sit on the central council, which will be chaired by Kaczyński.
This is a response to internal conflicts and frictions, among other things. One came to light after the defeat in the Małopolska Regional Assembly, where Kaczyński's candidate for Speaker lost subsequent votes because he did not have support within his own party. It was after this that unofficial appeals appeared to throw Beata Szydło out of the board, and she responded on the internet: “say it publicly, gentlemen, be brave!”
The party also lives in uncertainty whether it will lose funding from the budget and whether it will be able to repay the loan from the campaign. A new president – if there is a new one – is therefore needed for difficult times.
What do political opponents say about this? – Błaszczak? I don't think so – comments Katarzyna Lubnauer, deputy minister of national education from the Civic Coalition. – These are probably some moves to maintain the cohesion of Law and Justice, because as you can see, it is creaking very badly there – assesses the minister for European Union affairs from the Civic Coalition Adam Szłapka.
Main image source: PAP/Radek Parsley