Speaking at a party convention in Kraków on Thursday, Kaczyński said PiS would work to rebuild the United Right (Zjednoczona Prawica) in the broadest possible form and, failing that, seek an agreement with a narrower group.
"Only the United Right can defeat those who are not so much governing Poland as ruining it," he said, accusing the current government of "selling" the country.
He urged right-wing politicians to overcome internal divisions and personal ambitions, saying that "everything that gets in the way of unity must be rejected."
He added that the past three years had shown Poland’s survival as an independent, sovereign state could be at risk.
The convention took place on the third anniversary of the 15 October 2023 parliamentary election, after which PiS lost power to a coalition led by Donald Tusk.
Former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, a PiS deputy leader, said the "Poland in ruins" slogan, which divided opinion when it was first used, was becoming relevant again.
She pointed to the state of public finances, delays to major investments and rising living costs, and criticised high fuel and energy prices and difficult access to doctors.
"These white shirts have brought us a black reality," she said, referring to the campaign of the current ruling camp.
Przemysław Czarnek, a PiS deputy leader and the party’s candidate for prime minister, accused Tusk’s government of deceiving Poles and undermining trust in the state.
He cited unfulfilled campaign promises, including the pledge of "100 specifics."
Among PiS’s economic proposals, Czarnek listed raising the second income tax threshold to PLN 180,000 (EUR 41,200), lowering energy prices and giving tax breaks to working pensioners.
He also promised changes to the health contribution and said PiS would free up PLN 550 billion (EUR 126 billion) in capital held in Polish companies’ bank accounts.
Kaczyński ended his speech with the words: "I believe in success. Poland’s victory. Our victory."
(ał)
Source: PAP