A new role for Szydło in the European Parliament

Beata Szydło, a former prime minister and current MEP, has been elected chair of the Law and Justice (PiS) delegation in the European Parliament. She replaces Adam Bielan, who took over the chairmanship of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party after Mateusz Morawiecki lost that post. Szydło announced the change in a post on X on 14 October, saying it was meant to be made known in a somewhat different way, and repeated her statement in articles published on 15 October. The delegation is the national group of Polish MEPs inside the ECR, a political group of parties that stress the sovereignty of member states. Its chair coordinates the work of the Polish MEPs, represents them in ECR talks, helps agree common positions and organises their work in parliamentary committees. Poland's delegation is one of the largest national delegations in the group.

“Thank you for your trust. Our priority remains the consistent defence of Polish interests, the sovereignty of member states and the values on which Europe is built.”

A bigger campaign role ahead of 2027

Niezależna.pl reported on 2 October that the party leadership planned to give Szydło a bigger role, making her one of the main faces of a new PiS social campaign. That campaign was to focus on social inequality and the growing split between 'Poland A and Poland B', with particular attention to regions that could lose part of their EU support under the 2028-2034 financial framework. Oko.press noted that since Morawiecki left the party, Szydło is the only former prime minister in the PiS camp who still enjoys wide popularity. Niezależna.pl also cited an unnamed PiS politician who said she is highly liked among voters and has much to say about the situation under Donald Tusk's government. Szydło's post confirmed the appointment that the outlet had reported earlier.

The Kraków convention on 15 October

On Thursday, 15 October, Szydło is due to speak at the 'great PiS convention' at Hala Sokół in Kraków. The hall is where Andrzej Duda's 2015 presidential candidacy was presented, as was Karol Nawrocki's candidacy in a presidential race and Przemysław Czarnek's bid for prime minister. Szydło is expected to back Czarnek while also playing one of the key roles in the 2027 parliamentary campaign. The convention is billed as the start of a political offensive before next year's parliamentary elections, held on the third anniversary of the 15 October 2023 elections. PiS plans to present a critical assessment of Tusk's government and to argue that it remains the only realistic alternative to the current coalition. Kaczyński, Czarnek and Szydło are expected to speak, and the party will not present new policy proposals, focusing instead on mobilising its own voters and persuading undecided ones.

The announcement and its context

Szydło linked her announcement to the events of 14 October, referring in her post to a day of significant developments. wPolityce.pl wrote that she was pointing to what it described as unlawful actions by Donald Tusk's team towards the Constitutional Tribunal. In her post she added a remark about the days ahead.

“But history is accelerating, the day was dramatic, and much is probably still ahead of us.”

The post also said that a new shape of the European Union is being decided in the European Parliament, and that she would work actively for Poland and its national interests.