Development Plus

Founding and internal party dispute

Rozwój Plus was founded on 15 April 2026 by Mateusz Morawiecki. Upon its foundation, about 50 politicians of Law and Justice, including its MPs, senators, and MEPs, declared their support for the initiative. The foundation was seen as a result of the escalating conflict within the party between its moderate wing — the "Scouts" led by Morawiecki, and its dominant conservative wing — the "Butterers" (Polish: Maślarze),^[22] led by Przemysław Czarnek, Jacek Sasin, Tobiasz Bocheński, and Patryk Jaki.^[5] The conflict was caused by the nomination of Przemysław Czarnek as the Law and Justice's candidate for prime minister in the next Polish parliamentary election in March 2026. As Czarnek represents a national-conservative wing of the party,^[23] the "Scouts" criticized his nomination as an abandonment of centrist voters, and the conflict escalated given Czarnek's failure to improve the party's standing in the polls.^[24]

Czarnek's nomination for prime ministerial candidate boosted the "Butterers"; however, the support for PiS in the polls fell from 32% in 2025 to 25%, its lowest level in 14 years, following Czarnek's nomination.^[25] Under Czarnek, the party's conservatives tried to remove Morawiecki from leadership positions, regain voters from two parties further right - Confederation Liberty and Independence and the Confederation of the Polish Crown, and tap into the popularity of the President Karol Nawrocki, who had grown distant from PiS after his victory in favor of creating his own movement, which was dubbed "Polish MAGA" by the media. However, the "Butterers" failed at all three tasks, leaving them unable to suppress the "Scouts" and their growing criticisms.^[26] A Super Express poll found that amongst PiS voters, 34% wanted Morawiecki to succeed Kaczyński as the party leader, compared to 21% wanting Czarnek as the successor instead.^[1]

In reaction to the foundation of the association, the party spokesman Rafał Bochenek declared that the membership in Rozwój Plus is incompatible with membership in Law and Justice.^[22] Bochenek threatened disciplinary measures against those who joined Rozwój Polski, while the leader of Law and Justice, Jarosław Kaczyński, warned that he would exclude the association's members from the party's electoral list in the upcoming parliamentary election.^[25] Rozwój Plus was founded without the knowledge of Kaczyński. However, on 21 April, Kaczyński and Morawiecki held a meeting late at night.^[27]

After the meeting, Kaczyński and Morawiecki declared that a compromise had been reached under which Rozwój Plus would operate as a new expert council of the party.^[28] Kaczyński stated that he accepted that the party would have "two lungs", referring to the party's factions of "Scouts" and "Butterers".^[27] However, Morawiecki went on to formally register Rozwój Plus as a standalone association,^[28] which took place on 14 May.^[5]

In response, on June 9, the "Butterers", led by Jacek Sasin, announced the creation of their own political association, Poland First (Polish: Po Pierwsze Polska), which was to play the role of the conservative "lung" of the party. Poland First was an answer to Morawiecki's association, and its stated goals were preserving the unity of PiS and supporting the campaign and candidacy of Czarnek. Poland First numbered 100 PiS MPs.^[29] Two minor conservative associations were formed as well - Marek Suski founded Lech Kaczyński's Centre Agreement Association (Polish: Stowarzyszenie Porozumienie Centrum im. Lecha Kaczyńskiego), consisting of the "old guard" of PiS who descended from Centre Agreement, the precursor to PiS, as well as Conservative Forum (Polish: Forum Konserwatywne).^[27]

Break with Kaczyński

Despite initially tolerating the association and its registration in May, relations between the "Scouts" and PiS leadership significantly soured in July. Following the Order of the White Eagle controversy, Czarnek, accusing Ukraine of glorifying and promoting Banderism, declared that PiS would "force the EU to stop financing, in any way, Ukraine's armament and reconstruction" until Ukraine changes its stance and policies. This statement was considered openly anti-Ukrainian and was then denounced by Kaczyński, who stated that military assistance to Ukraine "is absolutely necessary" and that "Czarnek’s remarks will be addressed by the party leadership". Morawiecki also criticized Czarnek's statement, arguing that Czarnek and his wing of the party are attempting to outflank the far-right pro-Russian Grzegorz Braun from the right instead of focusing on the ruling Civic Coalition and the recent South Hospital scandal.^[30]

Subsequently, the "Scouts" also criticized PiS leadership for their promises of the "Czarnek effect", a promised boost in the polls that nominating Czarnek would bring, which failed to materialize.^[30] Morawiecki had also started boycotting numerous PiS gatherings, instead organizing debates and panels on behalf of Rozwój Plus.^[31] At the end of June, Morawiecki announced that Rozwój Plus would organize a large barbecue event on 31 July named "Rozwój Plus plus Wy", where Morawiecki and his political environment would discuss socioeconomic issues with voters.^[32] The media interpreted the barbecue as a show of political strength given its large scope and date, with 31 July seen "as a signal in itself: it marks the end of the political season, just before the strategic lull in the first half of August."^[33]

According to Rzeczpospolita, Kaczyński reacted to the announcement with fury, as Morawiecki did not consult the event with him, and the event was also seen as a breach of the agreement reached in April to make Rozwój Plus an expert council of PiS. Believing that only a few MPs would stay with Morawiecki when threatened with expulsion, Kaczyński decided to act against Rozwój Plus.^[34] According to Newsweek, internal party polls conducted by presidential advisor Piotr Agatowski were also decisive in Kaczyński's judgement, as they showed that Rozwój Plus would only win 2.8% of the popular vote, with PiS losing only 0.7 pp to it. This was in contrast to public media polls in which Rozwój Plus polled between 6 and 7%.^[35]

Ultimatum

On 15 July, Bochenek announced that the party's presidium adopted a resolution "prohibiting the activity and participation of PiS party members in associations, foundations, and other political organizations." It gave its members time until 23 July to obey the ruling, and those who failed to do so would be excluded from the party.^[38] PiS members had to sign a loyalty oath, confirming that they have abandoned any political association, foundation, or organization besides PiS.^[39]

Poland First was immediately dissolved after the resolution, all of its members signing the oath.^[38] According to Onet, PiS leadership believed that only about 20 to 25 MPs are hardline allies of Morawiecki, while the rest of Rozwój Plus were opportunists who struggled with their region and were looking for patrons. The "Butterers" would speculate in the media that only about 10 MPs out of the 40 active in Rozwój Plus would refuse to sign the oath, thus leaving Morawiecki isolated.^[39] On 17 July, 45 members of Rozwój Plus published a letter to Kaczyński in which they stated that their aim is party unity, adding that "unity – even when there are differences of opinion on the way forward – remains a prerequisite for lasting victory and responsibility for the state". At the same time, the letter said that PiS must "reconnect with those groups that have drifted away from us in recent years and to regain their trust."^[40]

One "Scout", Daniel Obajtek, did agree to sign the oath and thus leave Rozwój Plus.^[39] The loyalty oath was also signed by Anita Czerwińska [pl], who did not join Rozwój Plus, but is a "Scout".^[41] All other "Scouts" , however, did not, refusing to leave the association.^[1]

As a result, on 23 July, the day the deadline ended, Morawiecki and Kaczyński held talks in what the media called a "last chance meeting" with the purpose of finding a compromise. In the meeting, Morawiecki reportedly offered numerous concessions, such as limiting the number of association's conferences, or establishing a joint advisory council between Rozwój Plus and PiS. In total, Morawiecki presented 21 proposals to end the rift. However, no agreement was reached.^[1]

Attempted expulsion from PiS

On 24 July, as Rozwój Plus members refused to dissolve the association and sign the loyalty oaths, Kaczyński declared that they had excluded themselves from PiS. Morawiecki made a statement on his own, stating that he and his group had fought "until the very last moment" to preserve party unity. The number of MPs who supported Morawiecki was considered surprising.^[8] Morawiecki argued that he did not split the party, but has been "pushed out" of it.^[42] On 27 July, Grzegorz Lorek [pl] left Morawiecki's association.^[37] Lorek refused to explain his decision, other than stating: "As Lincoln said, I am not obligated to win, but I am obligated to be true to what I believe is right…".^[43] The media noted the fact that Lorek was allowed back into the party despite signing the loyalty oath past the deadline.^[43]

The Law and Justice political committee met on 28 July 2026 to formalize the expulsion of Morawiecki and the rest of Rozwój Plus members,^[44] amounting to 40 MPs, 1 Senator, and 3 MEPs.^[36][45] However, it would rule against doing so,^[46] with the party's disciplinary spokesman claiming that there were no grounds for Morawiecki's expulsion. The committee decided not to remove him or the other Rozwój Plus members from PiS, effectively preserving their party membership despite the internal conflict.^[47] The committee declared that the case of each Rozwój Plus member will be decided individually by the party discipline spokesman Karol Karski.^[20]

According to Wirtualna Polska, the decision to not expel the members of Rozwój Plus from PiS was dictated by practical reasons, such as preventing the establishment of a new parliamentary group (and ultimately a new party) and retaining state funding that PiS receives for each MP.^[48] Wirtualna Polska also argued that Karski would postpone his decision regarding each Rozwój Plus member indefinitely,^[48] as Karski has yet to make a decision regarding Krzysztof Szczucki, a PiS MP who was suspended in April 2026.^[20]

New parliamentary club

On 29 July, Mateusz Morawiecki would declare on a press conference his intention to establish a new parliamentary club "Rozwój Plus". This was in spite of the Law and Justice political committee deciding to not pursue his explusion. This new club would consist of 40 MPs and one senator, making it the third largest club of the 10th-term Sejm.^[21][49][50] Press spokesperson for Law and Justice Rafał Bochenek accused Morawiecki of misleading both the party, and the public, arguing that no new club could be registered unless its potential members first withdrew from Law and Justice.^[51][52] On the same day, Piotr Uściński, a PiS MP, announced that he would join Rozwój Plus,^[53] bringing the number of Rozwój Plus MPs back to 40.^[54]

The parliamentary club of Rozwój Plus was registered the next day, on 30 July. Morawiecki became its chairman, while Łukasz Schreiber was appointed as the vice chairman.^[3] On the same day, Rozwój Plus endorsed Michał Drewnicki, the candidate of PiS, in the 2026 Kraków mayoral election.^[55]