Changes

In 2011 a few prominent members were excluded from the party due to internal conflict and lack of acceptance for their ideas for reforming the party. In 2012, they founded a new party called Solidary Poland (Polish: ''Solidarna Polska'') with Zbigniew Ziobro, former Minister of Justice, as its leader.

In 2011 a few prominent members were excluded from the party due to internal conflict and lack of acceptance for their ideas for reforming the party. In 2012, they founded a new party called Solidary Poland (Polish: ''Solidarna Polska'') with Zbigniew Ziobro, former Minister of Justice, as its leader.

===2015: landslide elections===

===2015 landslide elections and aftermath===

In May 2015 Polish presidential election, the conservative and [[Euroskeptic]] challenger [[Andrzej Duda]] of PiS won in an upset, defeating the pro-EU incumbent.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/05/25/conservative-challenger-wins-polish-election-signaling-rightward-shift/ Conservative Challenger Wins Polish Election, Signaling Rightward Shift]. ''Breitbart News''. May 25, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/22/in-polish-presidential-ballot-win-by-right-wing-challenger-could-signal-return.html In Polish presidential ballot, win by right-wing challenger could signal return to turbulence]. ''Fox News'' (and AP). May 22, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> In the October 2015 general election, PiS won in a landslide,<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/10/26/eurosceptics-claim-victory-in-landmark-poland-election/ Eurosceptics Claim Victory In Landmark Poland Election]. ''Breitbart News''. October 26, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> becoming the first Polish party to win enough votes to govern the country alone since the fall of communism in 1989.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34648575 Poland elections: Law and Justice party can govern alone]. ''BBC''. October 27, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref><ref>Goettig, Marcin; Barteczko, Agnieszka (October 27, 2015). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-idUSKCN0SL1XH20151027 Poland's Eurosceptics win outright majority in parliament]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref> This landslide election frightened Europeanist leaders and politicians.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/12/23/polands-political-course-sparks-alarm-in-us-and-europe-with-fears-of-democratic-backsliding/ Poland’s Political Course Sparks Alarm in US and Europe, With Fears of Democratic Backsliding]. ''Breitbart News''. December 23, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> It was also the first election where no left-of-center parties sat in the Polish parliament.<ref>Gera, Vanessa (October 29, 2015). [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2015/10/28/right-wing-shift-new-polish-parliament-has-left-wing/ywLYGOUE5TVOyCyKRCzzfI/story.html Left wing is shut out in parliamentary vote in conservative Poland]. ''The Boston Globe''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34631826 Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win]. ''BBC News''. October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref>

In May 2015 Polish presidential election, the conservative and [[Euroskeptic]] challenger [[Andrzej Duda]] of PiS won in an upset, defeating the pro-EU incumbent.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/05/25/conservative-challenger-wins-polish-election-signaling-rightward-shift/ Conservative Challenger Wins Polish Election, Signaling Rightward Shift]. ''Breitbart News''. May 25, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/22/in-polish-presidential-ballot-win-by-right-wing-challenger-could-signal-return.html In Polish presidential ballot, win by right-wing challenger could signal return to turbulence]. ''Fox News'' (and AP). May 22, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> In the October 2015 general election, PiS won in a landslide,<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/10/26/eurosceptics-claim-victory-in-landmark-poland-election/ Eurosceptics Claim Victory In Landmark Poland Election]. ''Breitbart News''. October 26, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> becoming the first Polish party to win enough votes to govern the country alone since the fall of communism in 1989.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34648575 Poland elections: Law and Justice party can govern alone]. ''BBC''. October 27, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref><ref>Goettig, Marcin; Barteczko, Agnieszka (October 27, 2015). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-idUSKCN0SL1XH20151027 Poland's Eurosceptics win outright majority in parliament]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref> This landslide election frightened Europeanist leaders and politicians.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/12/23/polands-political-course-sparks-alarm-in-us-and-europe-with-fears-of-democratic-backsliding/ Poland’s Political Course Sparks Alarm in US and Europe, With Fears of Democratic Backsliding]. ''Breitbart News''. December 23, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2017.</ref> It was also the first election where no left-of-center parties sat in the Polish parliament.<ref>Gera, Vanessa (October 29, 2015). [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2015/10/28/right-wing-shift-new-polish-parliament-has-left-wing/ywLYGOUE5TVOyCyKRCzzfI/story.html Left wing is shut out in parliamentary vote in conservative Poland]. ''The Boston Globe''. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34631826 Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win]. ''BBC News''. October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2017.</ref>

The European Union began taking legal action against Poland in July 2017 due to its enacting, and attempted enacting, of conservative judicial reforms that went against EU ideology.<ref>Zdrojkowski, Wojciech (July 30, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/07/30/european-union-commences-legal-action-nation-poland/ European Union Takes Legal Action Against Poland… For Refusing To Do As They Are Told]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 30, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-politics-eu-idUSKBN1AE0CD EU starts action against Poland over judiciary reforms]. ''Reuters''. July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.</ref> However, Poland received support from the [[conservative]] [[Hungary|Hungarian]] government.<ref>Multiple references:

The European Union began taking legal action against Poland in July 2017 due to its enacting, and attempted enacting, of conservative judicial reforms that went against EU ideology.<ref>Zdrojkowski, Wojciech (July 30, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/07/30/european-union-commences-legal-action-nation-poland/ European Union Takes Legal Action Against Poland… For Refusing To Do As They Are Told]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 30, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-politics-eu-idUSKBN1AE0CD EU starts action against Poland over judiciary reforms]. ''Reuters''. July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.</ref> However, Poland received support from the [[conservative]] [[Hungary|Hungarian]] government.<ref>Multiple references:

*Wróbel, Aleksandra (February 20, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/hungarian-parliament-votes-to-support-poland-in-fight-against-eu/ Hungarian parliament votes to support Poland in fight against EU]. ''Politico''. Retrieved February 22, 2018.

*Wróbel, Aleksandra (February 20, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/hungarian-parliament-votes-to-support-poland-in-fight-against-eu/ Hungarian parliament votes to support Poland in fight against EU]. ''Politico''. Retrieved February 22, 2018.

*Nelson, Soraya Sarhaddi (March 12, 2018). [https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/12/587949473/how-poland-and-hungary-are-forming-a-powerful-tag-team-against-brussels How Poland And Hungary Are Forming A Powerful Tag Team Against Brussels]. ''NPR''. Retrieved March 14, 2018.</ref>

*Nelson, Soraya Sarhaddi (March 12, 2018). [https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/12/587949473/how-poland-and-hungary-are-forming-a-powerful-tag-team-against-brussels How Poland And Hungary Are Forming A Powerful Tag Team Against Brussels]. ''NPR''. Retrieved March 14, 2018.</ref>