The collapse in talks over a government reshuffle in Warsaw last week has raised the prospect of early elections and laid bare a power struggle at the heart of the ruling coalition over the long-term leadership of the Polish right.
Zbigniew Ziobro, the hardline justice minister, ignited the political crisis when his United Poland party announced it would oppose an animal rights bill championed by Law and Justice (PiS), the senior coalition partner.
It was the culmination of months of ideological confrontation within the ruling camp, as Mr Ziobro and his allies staked out hardline positions on issues ranging from LGBT rights to climate policy and foreign funding for NGOs.
You can read my report for the Financial Times here.
Christian Davies 