Law and Justice (PiS): Poland's Dominant Right-Wing Force Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość), founded in 2001 by Jarosław and Lech Kaczyński, is a right-wing populist and national-conservative party dominating Polish politics. Initially positioned as centrist Christian democrats, PiS shifted towards a culturally conservative platform, embracing economic interventionism and close ties with the Catholic Church. A 2011 split saw the Catholic-nationalist faction form United Poland. The party's rise to power began with electoral victories in 2005, with Lech Kaczyński becoming President. After a period in opposition, PiS returned to power in 2015, winning parliamentary majorities in 2015, 2019, and 2020, before losing its majority in the 2023 elections. Under Jarosław Kaczyński's leadership, PiS implemented populist social policies alongside a national-conservative agenda. PiS's core tenets include strong law and order, economic interventionism, and a socially conservative stance rooted in Catholic values. Key policy positions focus on strengthening national identity, bolstering social welfare programs, and maintaining close relations with the Catholic Church. However, PiS’s rule has been marked by controversy, drawing international criticism and domestic protests for its perceived undermining of democratic institutions and checks and balances. Currently, the party holds 190 seats in the Sejm and 34 in the Senate, operating within the United Right coalition. The party’s recent electoral setbacks signal a shift in the Polish political landscape, though its considerable influence remains.