Kaczyński Returns As Deputy PM Ahead Of Winter Election Campaign

Gov't spox Piotr Mueller has confirmed that head of the governing right-wing populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) Jarosław Kaczyński will return as Poland's sole deputy prime minister, a year after vacating the position. While PM Mateusz Morawiecki has led the Polish gov't since 2017, Kaczyński is viewed as many observers as the primary influence on gov't policy direction.

• Mueller confirmed that the other deputy prime ministers had all resigned from their positions while retaining their respective ministerial briefs.
• With the parliamentary election due to take place by 11 November, Kaczyński's return to frontline politics can be viewed as a direct attempt to bolster the PiS' campaign, which faces threats from former PM Donald Tusk's centre-right Civic Coalition, the new centrist agrarian 'Third Way' alliance, and the far-right nationalist Confederation.
• Kaczyński has been a dominant figure in Polish politics for 20 years, having led PiS since 2003 and served a brief stint as PM from 2006-07. He retains a significant amount of personal popularity, particularly among older PiS voters in rural areas of east and southern Poland.