Two PO senators join PiS

Senators Andrzej Misiołek and Leszek Piechota announced that they’re leaving the opposition Civic Platform (PO) to join the ruling Law and Justice (PiS). The reason for this decision is a statement from PO MP Borys Budka who said back in August that “the EU should give Poland an ultimatum” regarding Warsaw’s infringing on the rule of law. According to them, Budka did not apologize for his words, and additionally, six PO MEPs voted to launch Article 7 procedures against Poland (with the rest of PO lawmakers abstaining of voting against the motion), which was “an action against Poland.” “Such behavior clearly shows that PO allows for such actions,” both Senators said in a statement announcing their decision. “As Poles, senators of the Republic of Poland, guided by the words of our pledge, we do not agree with the line of action of the parliamentary PO's governing bodies and the Civic Platform authorities, and today we are resigning from the parliamentary PO and the Civic Platform party,” the statement said. They will officially become PiS members in January after the party’s caucus general assembly. After their switch, PiS will have 59 senators, while PO’s headcount will drop to 31.