Jan Russ and Karol Stasik turned their backs on their respective parent parties. Russ entered into a coalition with the Local Government Platform, while Stasik left Civic Platform after the coalition was formed. Both suffered defeat.
Today Jan Russ announced that he had left Jarosław Kaczyński’s party. Two days ago, we asked him whether he had been expelled from the party or would leave it himself. He denied both possibilities, although Karol Stasik told us on Tuesday that he had already seen Jan Russ’s resignation.
Adam Lipiński, PiS head in Lower Silesia and a close associate of Jarosław Kaczyński, told us during Tuesday’s conversation that Russ had not been expelled and that he knew nothing about his resignation.
Today it turned out that Karol Stasik’s words were confirmed: Russ already had his resignation ready on Tuesday.
Jan Russ received many votes in the election, although in our opinion this was due to his first position on the PiS list, rather than to his popularity or achievements as a councillor. Now Jan Russ is left with nothing; he will serve as an unaffiliated councillor.
Adam Lipiński confirmed today in a conversation with us that PiS wanted to form a coalition with the Nonpartisan Local Government Representatives in Bolesławiec because it was a consequence of an agreement concerning the Lower Silesian Regional Assembly. He also confirmed that Jan Russ did not want this coalition. “I can only feel sorry for Mr Russ,” Adam Lipiński added.
We were unable to speak with Jan Russ today; his phone was switched off.