Former PiS deputy minister Tomasz Rzymkowski joins Confederation caucus in Poland's Sejm
Tomasz Rzymkowski, a deputy education minister in the former Law and Justice government, has joined the Confederation caucus in the Sejm. He is the group's 17th lawmaker, and his arrival is expected to give Sławomir Mentzen's New Hope a majority inside the caucus.
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Move announced in parliament
- Former PiS-era deputy education minister Tomasz Rzymkowski has moved from the Direct Democracy circle to the Confederation caucus.
- The caucus grows from 16 to 17 MPs.
- Before the move, the caucus was split 8 to 8 between the National Movement and New Hope.
- A Newsweek source said his arrival gives New Hope a majority and caused internal disputes in Confederation.
Rzymkowski's switch was announced on Oct. 22 at a press conference in the Sejm building (Klub Konfederacji ogłasza transfer. Dołącza były wiceminister z rządu PiS – PolsatNews.pl). The 40-year-old lawmaker from Kutno leaves the Direct Democracy parliamentary circle and becomes the 17th member of the Confederation caucus. Before the move, the caucus had 16 members (Konfederacja zyskuje nowego posła. To były wiceminister edukacji – TVP Info). In the Direct Democracy circle he sat alongside Paweł Kukiz (Były poseł PiS trafi do Konfederacji. Bosak i Mentzen spierali się o niego – Newsweek).
Confederation MP Grzegorz Płaczek said the new member would strengthen the group. MP Michał Wawer said many lawmakers want to join Confederation and that the party's Council of Leaders reviews each candidate. According to Wawer, Rzymkowski is the first to pass that vetting. Rzymkowski said he was glad to work toward making Confederation the leading force on the Polish right.
From Kukiz'15 to Law and Justice
Rzymkowski first entered the Sejm in 2015 on the Kukiz'15 lists and was a deputy chairman of that caucus. He later became associated with Law and Justice (PiS). Under the PiS government he was a deputy minister of education while Przemysław Czarnek ran the ministry.
Balance between Confederation's two wings
Confederation's caucus has been split evenly, with eight members from the nationalist National Movement and eight from New Hope, according to a source close to the party leadership quoted by Newsweek. The same source said Rzymkowski's arrival would give New Hope, the party of Sławomir Mentzen, a majority in the caucus.
The source also said there were disputes inside Confederation over whether to accept Rzymkowski. Nationalists feared New Hope would outnumber them and come to dominate the caucus. Newsweek reported that Krzysztof Bosak and Mentzen argued over the transfer for a long time.
Caucus size
- Confederation caucus before the transfer: 16 MPs
- After the transfer: 17 MPs
- Split before the transfer: 8 National Movement, 8 New Hope
Sources
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