At the 2005 legislative elections of 25 September, he gained 15,855 votes in the 18th electoral (Siedlce) district.

He was returned to both these positions again from October 2001 to March 2003, in the cabinet of Leszek Miller.

Kalinowski succeeded Waldemar Pawlak as the leader of the PSL party in November 1997 and he held this position to March 2004.

Following the 2005 Polish legislative elections, he was elected to the position of Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (deputy Speaker of the lower house) in November.

On 7 June 2009 Kalinowski was elected Member of European Parliament (MEP) from Masovian Voivodeship constituency, gaining 51,014 of the votes.