Mentre il suo sostegno scende al minimo degli ultimi 14 anni, cosa è andato storto per il partito di opposizione polacco PiS? [Opinion]

PiS off! Can’t disappear from the political landscape soon enough….

I’d wager the world has changed and the sands of geopolitics have been shifting for years. They however, as a non Pole, please any polish person feel free to correct me; have not changed their stance on a great many things.

That “fall in support” is dubious at best. Their most hardcore voters just went to anti-semitic Braun party and Konfederacja, who will end up in PiS-led coalition anyway come 2027. Not to mention “undecided” people, meaning PiS voters ashamed to admit who they’re supporting. PiS dying is just wishful thinking.

For years, the strategy of PiS was to have a “wall on the right”, meaning they were the only right-wing party that mattered. That way, they automatically get the support of far-right voters and could focus all their effort on attracting the moderates.

The problem with this approach are the mixed signals PiS is sending. They can, for instance, blame the EU for everything wrong with the world. This resonates with some, but at the same time, PiS doesn’t support leaving the EU. This is where KKP (Braun’s party) succeeds, catering to those radicalised by PiS, but believing they don’t go far enough.

Right now, PiS is in a massive internal conflict about the future direction that could tear the party apart. On one hand, you have those who believe they should try reestablishing “the wall”, moving the party further to the right to directly compete with KKP. This faction seems to be in control right now. Another, centered on the former PM Mateusz Morawiecki, would rather steer the party in a more moderate direction. There are rumours floating around that, if pushed to the side, Morawiecki could start a party of his own, further weakening PiS.