English Section

Polish junior governing party suspends MP who criticised leader’s secret meeting with opposition

07.07.2025 16:16
A Polish junior governing party has suspended a lawmaker for publicly condemning its leader's secret meeting with the opposition, sparking debate over loyalty and transparency.
Szymon Hołownia and Tomasz Zimoch.
Szymon Hołownia and Tomasz Zimoch.Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

MP Tomasz Zimoch said he was suspended for a month by the Poland 2050 party after he openly criticised party leader Szymon Hołownia's meeting with politicians from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party.

“This doesn’t change anything - I will remain true to myself,” Zimoch wrote on social media.

Zimoch's criticism came after Radio Zet and Newsweek Polska reported that Hołownia, who serves as lower-house Speaker, visited the private apartment of PiS MEP Adam Bielan on Thursday night.

The gathering, also attended by Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the conservative PiS party, and Deputy upper-house Speaker Michał Kamiński, provoked a wave of criticism from coalition allies and members of Hołownia’s own party.

Zimoch, a former sports commentator who entered politics after leaving the media, was among those who strongly condemned the meeting.

According to Poland 2050 deputy leader Bartosz Romowicz, the decision to suspend Zimoch was not unanimous, with a 5-to-1 vote.

Speaking in parliament, Romowicz said he opposed such a radical step, arguing that many issues could still be resolved through dialogue, broadcaster TVN24 reported.  

(mp)

Source: X/@tzimoch/@tvn24