The éminence grise: How a twin brother became Poland's unofficial chief of state
He rarely held the highest office, yet for years, Jarosław Kaczyński was the most powerful man in Poland. From anti-communist dissident to the architect of a 'moral revolution,' discover the complex political legacy of the man behind the scenes.
Jarosław Kaczyński’s political trajectory is defined by a move from the fringes of resistance to the center of state power. A student activist during the 1968 political crisis, he later became a key figure in the anti-communist opposition, working with the Workers' Defence Committee (KOR) and the Solidarity movement. His early career was marked by direct confrontation with the regime, including arrests during the 1980 protests and investigating human rights violations by communist security forces.
The political landscape changed significantly in 2001 when Kaczyński co-founded the Law and Justice (PiS) party alongside his twin brother, Lech Kaczyński. This partnership led to a historic moment in global politics: the two brothers became the first pair in the world to serve as the president and prime minister of a single country. While Lech served as president, Jarosław held the premiership from 2006 to 2007, often acting as the 'architect' of the government's policies.
Even when not holding the premiership, Kaczyński exerted immense influence. During the PiS governments of 2015–2023, he was frequently described as the 'de facto ruler' of Poland and an 'éminence grise.' His political vision, sometimes pejoratively called 'Kaczyzm,' sought a 'moral revolution' to return Poland to its conservative, Roman Catholic roots and break from the perceived compromises of the post-communist era. This period was marked by significant domestic shifts, including the establishment of the Central Anticorruption Bureau and a more eurosceptical stance toward the European Union.
Source: Jarosław Kaczyński
