The leader of Kukiz’15, Paweł Kukiz, makes a clear stand in a recent interview with the Polish Press Agency: he will not pursue roles in government or seek positions for any company run by the state. He explains that no promissory note has been signed with the ruling party, despite his campaign from the front of the PiS slate.
In the same talk, Kukiz details his ongoing relationship with Law and Justice. He says that while he did not sign any formal agreement with this alliance, his trust lies with Jarosław Kaczyński, the party’s chairman. He also states that if the United Right secures victory in the upcoming election on October 15, he will not accept a governmental post or a seat in any state-owned financial institution. He remains hopeful, however, that three to four Kukiz’15 MPs could win seats in the Sejm as part of a broader agreement.
During the discussion, Polish Press Agency asks whether Kukiz now feels like a professional MP or still regards himself primarily as an artist, noting that he listed musician in the NEC column. Kukiz responds that he still holds his artist identity close to heart, but politics demands a different level of sensitivity at this moment. He hopes that over the next four years electoral law and key political issues will shift, allowing him to release the artist within, perhaps not by performing concerts, but by writing songs and expressing his artistic voice in other ways. He frames this term as a final window to push his demands and says he will not seek a seat in the Sejm in the next term, regardless of outcomes. He gives himself four years to pursue these goals.
Asked about past frustrations with the Polish People’s Party and whether he had signed any promissory notes with Law and Justice, Kukiz states there is no need for such a document. He recalls a 2021 contract with Jarosław Kaczyński that was presented during a debate in Opole and notes that several items were fulfilled, including measures protecting Polish pharmacists from foreign buyouts, liberalizing exploration regulations, and lowering thresholds in local referendums. He emphasizes his lack of reasons to doubt Kaczyński personally and reiterates that he does not participate in companies, expecting PiS to execute these demands to maintain a loyal coalition partner.
The interview also touches on priority projects and the question of what Kukiz might be willing to trade for. He hasn’t finalized a list yet, but stresses the urgency: if the United Right wins, the window to implement changes is short. He believes a new president could change the political calculus, noting positive signals from President Andrzej Duda regarding electoral reform, whether in a mixed electoral framework, justice of the peace, or a greater role for referendums.
When asked whether he would join the government if the United Right wins, Kukiz answers firmly in the negative. He says he will not pursue government positions and emphasizes the importance of preventing any party on the opposite side from gaining leverage. He asserts that his group will continue to operate in line with the laws, requirements, and program projects shared with Law and Justice.
Regarding parliamentary representation, Kukiz explains that it is ultimately up to citizens to elect MPs under a reform of the electoral law, which both Law and Justice and Kukiz’15 support. He notes that several Kukiz’15 candidates are in the running, with around eight on the list, and that having three to four of them win seats would be a meaningful outcome.
The referendum scheduled to accompany the October 15 elections is discussed as well. Kukiz recalls his past involvement in Bronisław Komorowski’s referendum and his participation in the Civic Platform’s 4xTAK initiative. He says this referendum holds deep significance for him, and he intends to participate in the PiS referendum too. He adds that in a future term he would advocate for a genuine citizens’ referendum, where the Sejm must hold a referendum after a sufficient petition is gathered, but only if the questions are precise and unambiguous. He places substantial value on the integrity of referendums and acknowledges their political consequences for national governance.
When campaigns urge people to abstain from referendums, Kukiz condemns those efforts as anti-democratic and harmful to party democracy. He reflects on Komorowski’s referendum questions, noting some lacked clarity about the number of seats or constituencies. Yet he insists that the core idea behind the questions—ensuring a clear approach to fiscal interpretation and governance—should guide participation. He mentions Donald Tusk’s remarks about potentially overturning the referendum as a sign of authoritarian tendencies, implying that a single-party rule could threaten democratic norms.
Polls may show PiS leading without an outright majority, raising questions about a potential coalition with the Confederation. Kukiz argues that the specific coalition is less important than what the alliance can deliver to the country. He suspects the Confederation may resist a coalition that would allow stable budget governance, and he suggests that their strategy could backfire if they overestimate the electorate’s appetite for a broader political shakeup. The interview ends with a critical note on the political dynamics facing Poland as it moves toward the next election cycle, with Kukiz continuing to push for a framework that aligns his party’s goals with a broader, responsibly governed future as a civic participant in the Polish state.