Poland Comes First

Poland Comes First
Polska jest Najważniejsza
LeaderPaweł Kowal
Founded16 November 2010
Dissolved7 December 2013
Split fromLaw and Justice
Merged intoPoland Together
Membership (2012)2,300
IdeologyConservatism
Christian democracy
Conservative liberalism
Soft euroscepticism
Economic liberalism
Political positionCentre-right[1][2]
European affiliationAlliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
ColoursAmaranth
Website
www.stronapjn.pl
The party's first logo (2010–11) was in the colours of the Polish flag, and emphasised the word 'Poland' (Polska).

Poland Comes First (Polish: Polska jest Najważniejsza), also rendered as Poland is the Most Important, shortened to Poland First, and abbreviated to PJN, was a centre-right, conservative liberal, political party in Poland. It was formed as a more moderate breakaway group from Law and Justice (PiS). By early 2011, the party had eighteen members of the Sejm, one member of the Senate,[3] and three members of the European Parliament.[4] Poland Comes First ceased to exist as a political party in December 2013, when it joined the new centre-right party led by Jarosław Gowin named Poland Together.

Spurred by the expulsion of Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska from the party, the party was founded as a moderate, "liberal" splinter from Law and Justice,[2] whom PJN claimed had drifted to the right under party leader Jarosław Kaczyński. More pro-free market than PiS, Poland Comes First has criticised the slow pace of economic reforms by the Civic Platform (PO) government.[5] In 2011, the party received defectors from PO, giving it representation in the Senate. However, the party failed to win any Sejm or Senate seats in the October 2011 Parliamentary election.

In the European Parliament, its members continued to sit, along with Law and Justice, in the European Conservatives and Reformists group, of which PJN founder Michał Kamiński was the chairman until March 2011. The party was affiliated with the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, of which Adam Bielan, who was one of the co-founders of the PJN but then left the party, is a Vice-President.

  1. ^ "Polish opposition's support holds up, despite rebels". Reuters.
  2. ^ a b Adekoya, Remi (22 November 2010). "PiS expellees to form party". Warsaw Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Jacek Swakoń opuszcza PO. Senator przechodzi do PJN". Polskie Radio (in Polish). 18 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  4. ^ "W PJN już 17 posłów". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). 4 December 2010.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference An interview with Joanna was invoked but never defined (see the help page).