Confederation Liberty and Independence

Konfederacja Liberty and Independence is a Polish right-wing alliance that combines national conservatism, libertarian economics, and strong Euroscepticism.

History and ideology

Confederation Liberty and Independence (Polish: Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość), usually shortened to Konfederacja, emerged as an electoral alliance rather than a single classic mass party. It was formally launched in 2018 ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections and then carried into the 2019 parliamentary elections, where it succeeded in entering the Sejm as a new force on the radical-right and libertarian fringes of Polish politics. The coalition brought together several currents already present in the Polish right: KORWiN (associated with Janusz Korwin-Mikke and later Sławomir Mentzen’s environment), the National Movement (Ruch Narodowy), and a network around the Confederation of the Polish Crown linked to Grzegorz Braun.

Its political evolution reflects a broader trend in Polish politics: the consolidation of anti-establishment voters dissatisfied with both the centrist liberal camp and the governing conservative right. Konfederacja has remained ideologically diverse internally, but its common denominator is opposition to state expansion, criticism of the European Union’s integration trajectory, resistance to liberal social norms, and a strong emphasis on national sovereignty.

Ideologically, the party sits on the right to far-right side of the spectrum, although parts of its programme are distinctly libertarian on economic questions. Its core pillars are:

• Economic libertarianism: low taxes, deregulation, small government, hostility to welfare expansion and state intervention.
• National conservatism: prioritising Polish identity, traditional social norms, family policy aligned with conservative Catholic values.
• Euroscepticism: criticism of EU federalisation, opposition to transferring further competences to Brussels, and strong defence of national sovereignty.
• Anti-establishment populism: presenting itself as an alternative to the “duopoly” of Civic Platform and Law and Justice.
• Cultural conservatism: opposition to many liberal positions on gender, sexuality, and migration.

Unlike a fully disciplined party, Konfederacja has often functioned as a loose federation of factions. This gives it flexibility and media visibility, but also creates recurring internal tensions between libertarians, nationalists, and socially radical figures.

Objective achievements and contributions

Konfederacja’s most important objective contribution to Polish politics has been electoral and agenda-setting, rather than a long list of major laws enacted from government office, since it has not governed nationally.

Key achievements and facts

• Entered the Sejm in 2019: Konfederacja won parliamentary representation in the 2019 elections, establishing itself as a durable political force at national level.
• Expanded its influence in 2023: it returned to the Sejm after the 2023 parliamentary elections, confirming that its electorate was not purely protest-driven and had become an entrenched segment of the Polish party system.
• Raised the profile of libertarian economic arguments: the party pushed issues such as tax reduction, regulatory simplification, and criticism of public spending into mainstream debate.
• Strengthened Eurosceptic discourse: Konfederacja became the clearest parliamentary voice arguing against deeper EU integration and against what it sees as ideological pressure from EU institutions.
• Represented anti-mandate and anti-restriction sentiment during the COVID-era: its deputies and public figures strongly criticised lockdowns, mandatory health measures, and emergency restrictions, attracting voters hostile to state coercion.
• Mobilised younger male voters especially effectively: one of Konfederacja’s notable political effects has been its ability to attract younger, internet-active voters, particularly through social media and outsider-style campaigning.
• Broadened the spectrum of acceptable parliamentary rhetoric: it normalized harder language on migration, sovereignty, taxation, and cultural issues, even when not winning policy victories.
• Influenced debate on migration and border policy: Konfederacja’s pressure has helped keep border security and migration control central issues in Polish public discussion.

Analytical assessment of contribution

Because Konfederacja has not been a governing party nationally, it cannot be credited with a record of large-scale legislation in the way that parties in power can. Its real contribution lies in agenda setting, parliamentary representation of dissatisfied voters, and forcing discussion on issues that the larger parties sometimes prefer to frame more cautiously. Its critics argue that it often uses polarising rhetoric and does not offer fully costed governance plans; its supporters see this as proof that it preserves ideological clarity in an otherwise cartelised party system.

Outlook

Konfederacja’s future will likely depend on whether it can remain a single electoral vehicle while managing its internal ideological contradictions. The coalition has several structural strengths: a clear brand, strong online communication, and a place in the market for voters who are simultaneously economically liberal, nationally conservative, and anti-establishment.

Its main challenges are also clear. First, internal cohesion is fragile: libertarian economists, national conservatives, and more radical cultural figures do not always share a common governing vision. Second, as it grows, it faces pressure to professionalise and produce detailed policy packages rather than only protest messaging. Third, any path toward coalition relevance would require it to reassure voters, business actors, and international partners that it can act responsibly in government.

In the short term, Konfederacja is likely to remain influential as a third-force challenger, especially when economic frustration, distrust in institutions, or identity-based politics intensify. In the medium term, it could either evolve into a more conventional right-wing party capable of coalition bargaining, or fragment under the weight of its internal currents. Its long-term role in Polish politics will depend on whether it can transform anti-system appeal into a stable governing identity.

Frequently asked questions

Is Confederation Liberty and Independence left-wing or right-wing? It is right-wing, and in many classifications it is placed on the hard right or radical right, with a libertarian economic wing.

What ideology does Confederation Liberty and Independence have? Its ideology is best described as national conservative libertarianism: socially conservative, nationalist, strongly pro-market, and Eurosceptic.

What does Confederation Liberty and Independence stand for? It stands for lower taxes, smaller government, Polish sovereignty, stricter immigration control, traditional values, and opposition to deeper EU centralisation.

Who leads Confederation Liberty and Independence? It is a coalition with several prominent figures rather than a single monolithic leadership; among the best-known names are Sławomir Mentzen and Krystian Kamiński-style National Movement figures, alongside other faction leaders.

Is Konfederacja a party or an alliance? It began as an electoral alliance of several right-wing groups and has continued to operate as a broad coalition-like structure rather than a classic single-party organisation.

Has Konfederacja ever governed Poland? No, Konfederacja has not governed nationally in Poland; its influence has come mainly through parliamentary representation, campaigning, and agenda setting.