Aides to the hospitalized leader of Poland's ruling party say Jaroslaw Kaczynski has retained full control and no decisions are made without him.

The 68-year-old Kaczynski is Poland's most powerful politician, shaping policies from the back seat even though he doesn't hold elected office.

Kaczynski has been in the hospital since early May with a knee problem. His noticeable absence has led to speculation about Law and Justice party in-fighting over succession.

His closest aide, Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski, said Wednesday that Kaczynski is not planning to retire from politics and expects to be back at work full-time soon.

Law and Justice spokeswoman Beata Mazurek says Kaczynski is "doing well and nothing is done without him knowing it."