A large work can be written about the PiS's relation with Viktor Orbán. Starting with how Jarosław Kaczyński wanted to make Budapest in Warsaw, and ending with how the current president of Poland indicated by him just played both on their noses.
Unless the president of the Law and Justice is truly happy with it now. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we all saw that Orbán had become problem for his party. But then there were relationship declarations again, and yet 2 PiS politicians found shelter in Hungary. Meanwhile, the war continues, Orbán did not change his approach to Russia, and before the weekend he even flew to Moscow and met Putin. You can easy see that the PiS is in a split.
So how would he proceed to play this if it wasn't for president Nawrocki's abrupt decision? Pretending to be happy that Orbán took care of Zbigniew Ziobra and Marcin Romanowski? That he's brothering Putin? And even that he supported Donald Trump's 28-point peace plan, which was unacceptable for Europe, for Poland, as well as for the Law and Justice?
Reactions after the cancellation of the Nawrocki gathering with Orbán
Let's remember. On 3 December, the summit of the Presidents of the Visegrad Group will be held in Ostrzyhomi, Hungary. A day later, Karol Nawrocki was to meet Viktor Orbán in Budapest, but after his visit to Moscow, plans were drastically changed.
"Karol Nawrocki decided to cancel gathering with Viktor Orbán" – said the head of the global Policy Office at the President's Chancellery Marcin Przycz. He noted, the decision has a connection "to a visit to Moscow and its context made by the Hungarian Prime Minister".
The consequence to the KO side is clear.
"The president threw down Orbán" – replied abroad Minister Radosław Sikorski.
"Not many things surprise Polish politics. But the fact that president Nawrocki listened to the voice of the Prime Minister and more broadly the government on the harmful, pro-Russian policy of Orbán, gives average optimism" – he was the head of the MMA Marcin Kierwiński.
Other KO politicians repeated in a akin tone: "Orbán had to go to Putin so that they would yet realize who was on whose side he was on", "We are waiting for the next step: condemning fugitives before the Polish judiciary Romanowski and Ziobra, hidden at Orbán's" etc.
On the PiS side, there were besides reactions that Nawrocki's decision was reasonable. In fact, only Confederate politicians criticized her. And besides the Hungarian media that compose about the scandal.
"Nawrocki cancelled his visit to Orbán not due to the fact that he had a strong character, just due to the fact that he was afraid of the image consequences of this visit" – this is 1 of the opinions.
As we see more and more, the president plays for his goal. But who knows if refusing to meet Orbán by the way did the PiS' favor.
There – even if it was authoritative in relations with Fidesz it was cold late – specified decisive reactions towards the Prime Minister of Hungary were for a cure. Paradoxically, there was 1 specified situation.
Kaczyński erstwhile refused to meet Orbán. Russia was in the background
For years, we saw PiS fraternize with Orbán and overlook his pro-Russian urges. In fact, it all started in January 2016, erstwhile Kaczyński invited the Prime Minister of Hungary to Poland.
But – worth reminding – he refused to meet him erstwhile Orbán sent him an invitation in 2015. The PiS was inactive in opposition. And Orbán had just hosted Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Similarity to today's situation with Nawrock? It just comes in.
– Prime Minister Kaczyński refused this gathering due to the fact that the attitude of the Prime Minister of Hungary was a storm of European solidarity – explained Mariusz Błaszczak, then head of the PiS club. He besides stated that, due to the political situation, specified a gathering in the evaluation of the Law and Justice Office does not make sense.
Except erstwhile the Law and Justice came to power, there was a complete change. They met with Orbán and Kaczyński, and Morawiecki, and Duda and others. Mateusz Morawiecki with his first abroad visit as Prime Minister went to Budapest in 2018. The same was done by Orbán after winning his election – although he inactive did not hide his sympathy for Russia.
The problem arose with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. “I can’t imagine – if Orbán continues to be specified a pro-Russian rhetoric – that our relations are as good as ever. Shame. Europe will remember – then the politicians of PiS were outraged at it.
"I'm not hiding that all this is very sad. My assessment is unambiguous – negative. We request to consider relations with Hungary" – Kaczyński said in a conversation with Radio Plus.
But the Law and Justice Government for more than a period could not definitely cut off Orbán and his pro-Russian politics. It was only then that the signals about "freezing all contacts beyond the essential minimum at government level" began to arrive, and that the PiS leaders had resigned from their journey to Budapest.
It's like he's against a wall and he has no choice.
A shelter for PiS politicians in Budapest, Orbán friend
Because already 2 years later Morawiecki called Orbán a "friend", and Budapest a "city of freedom of speech". And his Orbán named in 2025 "one of the best Polish prime ministers he always knew".
"I have many years of friendly relations with Mateusz Morawiecki, and cooperation between our factions in the European Parliament will be closer," he besides declared erstwhile Morawiecki headed the factions of European Conservatives and Reformists in the EP.
On the another hand, Karol Nawrocki's triumph in the presidential election Orbán stated with "great news" and "great win for cooperation in the Visegrad Group". "Long live Nawrocki!" he had previously cheered for him at the conservative CPAC conference in Budapest.
Finally, he personally announced that Hungary granted political asylum to Marcin Romanowski. erstwhile Deputy Minister of Justice from the erstwhile Sovereign Poland has been there for almost a year. Zbigniew Ziobro is besides there recently. They're both suspects in the Justice Fund investigation.
"Today I met Zbigniew Ziobro, erstwhile Minister of Justice, whose Polish government wants to arrest. And that's all in the heart of Europe. Meanwhile, Brussels listens. What a state of affairs!" wrote Orbán on X in late October.
Case of Ziebra and Romanowski uncomfortable for PiS
As you know, fresh polls are not favorable to the PiS. And the Ziobra case doesn't aid the party's image either. As Marcin Duma, the head of IBRIS, Jarosław Kaczyński, spoke to the Temat, he could not very much cut off from Zbigniew Ziobra due to the fact that he held a legislature united with Sovereign Poland.
Today it is not the most convenient position. The remark, which is directed at Zbigniew Ziobra, reminds voters of what happened for 8 years," he said.
As you can easy guess, Orbán with Putin besides increasingly does not aid PiS. And the case for Kaczyński is not easy either. Even if he started to cut him off hard now, Ziobro and Romanowski remain. Besides, who would believe him?
