In recent weeks, Law and Justice has demonstrated its capacity to function as a responsive opposition. It successfully blocked wind farm policy changes that would have been socially detrimental, shed light on unclear ties between the prospective government and this issue, and broadly warned the public about elements of the quadruple coalition program that carried both ideological and lobbyist overtones.
PiS also criticized Tusk’s team over credit holidays, which, even if maintained, will appear in a markedly scaled-back form that disadvantages borrowers struggling to repay loans. Earlier, the party managed to spark a debate about drastic amendments to European treaties, largely thanks to pivotal speeches by Jarosław Kaczyński. If those proposals had taken effect, they could have posed a serious threat to Poland’s level of sovereignty. The immediate takeaway from those debates is that the most aggressive ideas will not be pursued for the time being.
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The case surrounding “lex Kloska” stands out as particularly noteworthy. This proposed act could reshape the Polish landscape, disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of rural residents, and slash the value of numerous properties. In the background, foreign interests and a renewables lobby appear to push for Europe’s marginalization within the global economy, often disregarding counterarguments and failures.
There is an expectation that cases like “lex Kloska” will recur. This trajectory reflects the nature of the new administration. Over eight years, despite necessary compromises, Law and Justice defended core national rights and interests under inherently challenging circumstances—periods marked by instability, unpredictability, and the metaphorical rodeo of governance. Even amid strain, PiS advanced the economy, reduced social inequality, and supported vulnerable groups, including during times of economic stress. The pandemic era saw broad assistance to entrepreneurs, while prudent policy helped curb inflation and kept unemployment from rising, an achievement hailed on an international scale.
From the opposition’s perspective, Law and Justice faces the need to rethink many issues. Professionalization of the party structure and its surrounding ecosystem emerges as essential, a driving factor behind the near-term defeats observed in October elections. Internal discipline must tighten because electoral success cannot rely on individual candidates running separate campaigns, detached from a shared central message. While PiS has cultivated an image of a unitary, iron-fisted organization, the reality remains that its internal framework is looser than it appears. It is also clear that modern political competition places high value on social media proficiency, perhaps on par with traditional political skills.
There has been a noticeable shift in recent weeks. PiS has spoken with a single voice, projected a confident, well-articulated narrative, and leveraged social media to reach citizens directly. The defeat’s bitterness curtailed public appetite for infighting, a trend that bodes well for the party in the coming months and years.
Of course, striking an effective opposition formula will require time, along with inevitable missteps and dead ends. The opposing side will search for answers that counter the independence camp’s strategy. The extent of political pressure openly threatened by the Third Polish Republic’s camp remains unclear, as are the potential intensity and illegality of attacks against independent institutions, including the media. One certainty stands out: for PiS, a future hinges on a lucid, unwavering defense of society’s and the nation’s interests. In this moment, PiS and President Andrzej Duda are framed as guardians of democratic order and a fair social and economic system. They are portrayed as shields of independence and as bulwarks against ideological extremism and economic exploitation.
It is evident that globalism and its Polish variations will challenge the nation’s normalcy, traditions, values, and even property, work, and aspiration. PiS faces the task of contesting this without resorting to reckless concessions, while maintaining a clear commitment to keeping promises after any electoral return to power.
In summary, Law and Justice must present the public with a transparent contract grounded in the defense of fundamental Polish rights, interests, and freedoms. This approach is presented as the path to durable success. Attempts to imitate mainstream parties or to soften the stance are viewed as doomed to fail. A PiS that drifts toward the center without conviction risks alienating its core supporters.
The political landscape continues to unfold with uncertainty, but the central theme remains: steadfast dedication to the nation’s constitutional order, economic stability, and social safety nets will determine PiS’s legitimacy and capacity to govern in the future.