New leadership, old challenges: Poland 2050 charts its course

After weeks of turmoil surrounding the party’s internal elections, it is now clear who will replace Szymon Hołownia at the helm of Poland 2050. In the rerun of the second round of electronic voting, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, minister of funds and regional policy, defeated Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the minister of climate and environment. Ms. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz received 350 votes, compared with 309 for her rival.

Ms. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz was not the favorite going into the vote. Some of the candidates eliminated in the first round threw their support behind Ms. Hennig-Kloska. This was a sign of opposition to the way the party had been run, particularly after Szymon Hołownia transferred a significant share of power ahead of the presidential election to Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, appointing her as his first deputy. Other contenders, such as Paulina Hennig-Kloska and Joanna Mucha, remained members of the party’s executive board during that period.

“We are - and will remain - in this coalition, with voters’ issues and our yellow DNA”

The new party leader outlined her plans at a press conference. She thanked party members for their votes and Paulina Hennig-Kloska for the contest. She also stressed that, under her leadership, Poland 2050 would remain part of the coalition.

“I feel an enormous sense of responsibility for our movement and for what lies ahead. This week is about creating a new executive board for Poland 2050. A National Council will be convened to elect those members of the board who are not appointed by the chair. By the end of the week, we will have a new leadership team. I will want the National Council to call a national congress and for Poland 2050 to become more of a party built on the strength of its regions. I want all regional leaders to become members of the National Council of Poland 2050. Poland 2050 is part of the October 15 Coalition. And it will remain so – this is obvious. It is our commitment to voters. We are, and will remain, in this coalition, with voters’ issues and our yellow [color of the party - ed.] DNA,” said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.

“A clear-cut center”

Speaking about her priorities, the new leader of Poland 2050 said that “Poland 2050 is a movement of a clear-cut center.”

“Without a strong, clearly defined center, the radical right will come to power in Poland. We will always stand on the side of customers and consumers, not big corporations. We will stand with entrepreneurs and working people, not with those who think they can be wealthy politicians and profit from cheap labor. Polish technologies, Polish companies, Polish entrepreneurship, and fair taxes. Housing policy for residents, not for those who want to make money from speculation. That is the agenda we will be taking forward,” Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz argued.

She added that she wants to discuss these issues with the leaders of the other coalition parties and intends to meet with them in the near future.

As recently as December, in an interview with XYZ, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said she wanted Poland 2050 to be guided by the principles of the social market economy. She also emphasized that she wants the party to steer clear of radicalism.

“Unity cannot be just for show”

Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the minister of climate and environment, also took the floor at the press conference. She congratulated the winner of the party election and expressed hope that the new leader would bridge the divisions within the party. These had been particularly visible in recent weeks, as the outgoing leader, Szymon Hołownia, publicly speculated about a possible departure – together with a group of MPs.

“I was asked many times what I would do if I did not win this election. My answer was unequivocal: I am not going anywhere. A true athlete knows how to win every competition, but also how to lose – especially by the narrowest of margins. I thank those who shared my vision of change and put their trust in me. Katarzyna, I congratulate you, but you are aware that the party is divided over its vision, and you hold the greatest number of tools to fix this. We are one family, and this unity cannot be just for show. We are aware that too many words were said, including bad ones – though not by the minister – and too many gestures were made that should not have been. Starting from the regions, we must rebuild unity also within the parliamentary caucus,” said Paulina Hennig-Kloska.

Szymon Hołownia was absent

Paweł Śliz, chair of Poland 2050’s parliamentary caucus, also addressed the gathering, likewise expressing hope that the party’s internal divisions would be healed.

“These elections showed that we have different visions, yet we are walking the same path. Thank you, Paulina, for saying that this cannot be just for show. As a parliamentary caucus, we are united, and even when we disagree, we are able to act together,” Paweł Śliz said.

Ahead of the first round, the head of Poland 2050’s parliamentary caucus had publicly endorsed Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz. At the same time, his name had been mentioned in connection with a group of MPs aligned with Szymon Hołownia. Actually, Mr. Hołownia said to be able to take with him should he decide to leave.

Also present at the press conference was Marta Cienkowska, minister of culture and head of the party’s electoral commission. According to leaked messages from the party’s internal chat, it was she who had sought to derail the leadership election in order to keep Szymon Hołownia in power.

The Deputy Prime Minister post

Szymon Hołownia himself was absent from the press conference held by his successor. Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz acknowledged, however, that he congratulated her two minutes after the election results were announced on Saturday evening. They were due to meet on Tuesday.

Ms. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also addressed speculation that Szymon Hołownia might become Poland 2050’s candidate for deputy prime minister. On Sunday – the day after the party election – Paulina Hennig-Kloska suggested as much on TVN24 news station. In off-the-record conversations ahead of Monday’s press conference, other Poland 2050 politicians had voiced similar views.

It is worth recalling that in September it was Ms. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz who received the party’s nomination for the post. Since then, however, she has not had a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Paulina Hennig-Kloska was also competing for the role.

Poland 2050 did not secure such a position in the written coalition agreement when the current government was formed. Its politicians nevertheless point to a verbal agreement with Prime Minister Tusk, reportedly reached over the summer. The prime minister has avoided commenting on the matter, though politicians from Civic Coalition (KO) have said informally that the leadership contest within Poland 2050 may have influenced the timing of any decision.

“I have a fourfold mandate on this issue. The parliamentary caucus decided first, then the National Council, and then I was the candidate who received the most votes in both the first and second rounds of the Poland 2050 election. The deputy prime minister post is a decision for our main coalition partner. We are able to be in this coalition for causes. And we also say that agreements must be honored – that is what good politics is about. We, as Poland 2050, have honored those agreements. There is a verbal agreement that every party should have a deputy prime minister. We are in this coalition for causes and for people. As long as we can push forward good solutions for people, we remain in the October 15 Coalition and tell our coalition partners that we are ready for dialogue and cooperation. I am ready for dialogue,” said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.

Poland 2050: Minimal support

In the other coalition parties, there is a sense of relief that the leadership process in Poland 2050 has finally come to an end. As for a possible deputy prime minister post for Poland 2050, even within the Civic Coalition (KO) there is no certainty about what decision Prime Minister Donald Tusk will make. On July 10th he said he did not envisage a deputy prime minister role for Poland 2050. Later, however, voices could be heard – even from other coalition partners – that Poland 2050 might count on support on this issue.

“It seems that, given their low polling numbers, they will try to stand out in this way. My only concern is that they may do so by attacking coalition partners rather than the opposition, as happened during the presidential campaign,” one KO MP says off the record.

In informal conversations, politicians from Poland 2050 – like Paulina Hennig-Kloska herself – admit they are hoping for stabilization within the party and an end to internal divisions.

“The initiative lies with the person who won. It is up to her to present a way to bring together a formation that is fractured. If there is an idea and good will, I see no reason why space for dialogue could not be found. But that responsibility rests with the new leader,” one Poland 2050 lawmaker says privately.

Will there be defections? A Poland 2050 politician who supported Paulina Hennig-Kloska says her backers are not planning to leave the party. He is sharply critical of remarks by the now former leader, who suggested he might depart along with a group of a dozen or so MPs.

“These were absolutely irresponsible declarations that should never have been made,” the Poland 2050 politician says.

Divisions, however, remain visible. In a Monday interview on RMF, MP Ryszard Petru—who was eliminated in the first round of the party election—appealed to the new leader to set aside some of her views, accusing her of holding positions he described as extreme. Asked at the press conference about a place for Ryszard Petru in the new party leadership, the chair said he would not be among those appointed by her. She confirmed that she would, however, invite Paulina Hennig-Kloska to join the executive board.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also faces the task of rebuilding the party’s standing in the polls. Poland 2050 has parted ways with the Polish People’s Party (PSL), with which it entered parliament as part of the Third Way alliance. The next parliamentary election is due in the autumn of 2027. Poland 2050’s current support stands at just 1–2%.

Key Takeaways

1. Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz has announced that Poland 2050 will have a new executive board in place by the end of the wee after Sunday’s elections. She wants regional structures to play a stronger role in the party’s governance and has made clear that she intends Poland 2050 to position itself as a party of a clearly defined center.
2. The new leader of Poland 2050 continues to believe that she should be appointed deputy prime minister on behalf of her party. There have still been no unequivocal declarations on the matter from the Civic Coalition (KO) or from Prime Minister Donald Tusk. After the party election, Paulina Hennig-Kloska suggested that Szymon Hołownia could instead become deputy prime minister.
3. Poland 2050 is struggling with internal divisions. In recent weeks these have been deepened not only by the leadership election but also by remarks from the outgoing leader. Szymon Hołownia did not attend his successor’s first press conference and did not publicly congratulate her on her victory. The party is also polling very poorly.