Poland has opened its border with Ukraine to war refugees. Not so at another border, with Belarus. Since February 24th, more than 4.5 million people have entered Poland fleeing from Ukraine. This influx of war refugees met an open border and an unprecedented grassroots response. Citizens organised help: they took families home, brought food, offered transport. According to opinionContinue reading “The paradox of Polish migration policy”
Tag Archives: Poland
Poland’s abortion protests—democratic standards at stake
The passion behind the demonstrations signifies a battle for basic democratic standards in a world of creeping authoritarian temptations. On October 22nd, the Constitutional Court in Poland made an unprecedented decision, declaring abortion due to foetal defects unconstitutional. Because around 90 per cent of all legal abortions in the country are performed on this criterion, upon enteringContinue reading “Poland’s abortion protests—democratic standards at stake”
Poles apart—the presidential election in Poland
The presidential election in Poland was an intolerant affair—and the argument isn’t over yet. On July 12th, the second round of the presidential election took place in Poland. Not only the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic but also its significance for the country’s future made this a special race. In the end, supported by theContinue reading “Poles apart—the presidential election in Poland”
The corona campaign
The Polish Law and Justice party sees an opportunity in the wave of coronavirus infections to further consolidate power.
Germany, Poland and the EU
With growing distrust on both sides of the German-Polish border, a new rapprochement seems urgently neededst balance of power, it will have a significant impact on Polish political culture.
The Intriguing Outcome of the 2019 Polish Parliamentary Election
On October 13, parliamentary election in Poland was held. After the national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) defeated the liberal Civic Platform (PO) in 2015, the country was faced with extensive reforms. Not only the socio-economic paradigm changed, from the liberal course to a generous welfare state embodied in newly introduced child allowance, a steady increase of the minimum wage, or lowering retirement age. Radical changes to the judiciary as well as taking control of the public media caused a massive outcry at home and abroad, raising concerns about the state of democracy in Poland. Therefore, this year’s election was labelled the most important ballot since the fall of communism 30 years ago.
The parliamentary election in Poland—the future at stake
On October 13th, a parliamentary election will take place in Poland. After four years of the Law and Justice party (PiS) in government, this is a much-awaited ballot. Most probably, however, the result will not determine whether the current political course will continue—but rather how radical it will be. As of today, there is no serious competition to the PiS in sight.
The V4 After the EP Election: Glass Half Empty, Half Full
The 2019 European Parliament election brought a visible decline in the popularity of the
centre-left and relatively good results for all kinds of right-wing populists are unsettling.
Fortunately, this tilt to the right is not significant enough to meaningfully affect the functioning
of the European Union. Looking at the election results in the Visegrád countries (V4), we see
how much they were determined by the dynamics of the domestic political scene.
Politics in Poland: eternal duopoly or refreshing breeze?
This month, the Italian interior minister, Matteo Salvini of the Lega, travelled in search of possible partners for a ‘European spring’ alliance —‘a new plan for Europe’—comprising similar right-wing, populist, Eurosceptic movements. On his way, he had to stop by in Poland, governed since 2016 by the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which seems a natural partner for this enterprise.
Poland’s Left: Fragmented and in disarray
In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the results of the Polish Left were not good enough to enable them to win seats in the Polish parliament. Today, the biggest problem on the path towards challenging the governing national-conservative PiS party is that left wing parties are fragmented. Maria Skora looks back at the last elections and paints a picture of the state of the Left in Poland.
Dr Maria Skóra 