Warsaw, Poland – In a major political maneuver, former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is vying for the leadership of the European Conservative Reform Party (ECR), EURACTIV reported today. The coveted role is currently held by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The news, first reported by Euractiv based on insights from the Polish press, highlights the changing dynamics of the European right-wing political landscape.
According to previous reports by Polish magazine Wprost, highlighted by Euractiv, there is a possibility that Morawiecki could reach an agreement with Meloni to succeed him as ECR president. However, according to the latest update from the Fakt tabloid, also reported by Euractiv, it seems that no firm decision has been made yet. A source close to Morawiecki told Fakt, “Negotiations are ongoing. The chances are 50/50. Nothing has been decided yet.” The source also noted that while Meloni is reluctant to give up her position, the Polish side is actively trying to convince her.
As Yurativ points out, neither the ECR nor Morawiecki’s Law and Justice (PiS) party responded to requests for comment, leaving the political establishment in a state of flux.
If Morawiecki were to secure the ECR presidency, his party would score a strategic victory and strengthen its influence on the European right. The move follows PiS’s election defeat last year by a broad centre-left coalition led by former European Commission President Donald Tusk (Citizen’s Platform, EPP). For Morawiecki, the ECR leadership could provide a political refuge if he is not chosen as PiS’s candidate in next year’s Polish presidential election.
Euractiv noted that President Andrzej Duda will not be able to run for re-election under the constitution after his second term ends in 2025, prompting PiS to look for a new candidate. Morawiecki is said to be one of the contenders, along with other prominent figures such as MEPs Patryk Jaki and Tobiasz Bocheński, former Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and former Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek. Each potential candidate brings unique political strengths and challenges. Bocheński has emerged as the new favourite for PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, while Jaki, Błaszczak and Czarnek remain polarised but popular among PiS supporters.
The announcement of PiS’s presidential candidate is expected at the party congress in September or early October. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition has yet to announce its candidate, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly ruled out running for president. As Euractiv highlighted, Tusk lost the 2005 presidential election to Lech Kaczynski, the twin brother of PiS leader Jarosław Kaczynski, and remains a key figure in Polish politics.
As the European political chessboard continues to evolve, Morawiecki’s possible ascension to the ECR presidency could redefine alliances and power dynamics not only within Poland but also across the broader European conservative movement. As Euractiv reports, the coming months will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of Morawiecki’s political career and the ECR leadership.
Save as PDF