Just four days after the parliamentary elections in Poland and the new political reality in Warsaw is slowly settling in. What do we know? A New PM in sight - unlikely Mateusz Morawiecki was or is the candidate for the Prime Minister job. But before this question is answered by the PiS chair, Jarosław Kaczyński, … Continue reading The Week After the Vote
PiS loses out in the Senate to the Opposition. Difficult time ahead. #Gimme5EU
So yesterday Poles went to the polls. And yes they did. Big numbers, some 61% (estimated) of the electorate showed up. The celebration of democracy continues. As the results come in and they are distorted after 25% and 42% of the vote, I prefer to present the "late poll" result, which is almost identical with … Continue reading Poland voted: the morning after
Today Poles go to the polls to elect new Sejm of 460 MPs and 100 Senators. As the first exit polls come out, Law and Justice is the clear winner with 43.6% of the vote. The centrist Civic Coalition (KO) is second with 27.4% of the vote. The Left's back in the Polish Parliament with … Continue reading Poland voted: First reactions
In four days Poles will chose their Parliament. There are 460 seats in the Sejm and 100 Senate seats to grab. Five electoral committees are competing for the votes: Law and Justice (PiS) is the ruling party, the Civic Coalition (KO) is the centrist opposition, the Left is the progressive coalition, the Polish Coalition (KP) … Continue reading Poland Votes 2019: four days to go
Janusz Wojciechowski will be Ursula's von der Leyen's Commissioner for Agriculture, after all. The Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament just heard the Polish politician for the second time today. After the second hearing was held with Mr Wojciechowski speaking at ease in his native language, the coordinators unanimously agreed to give him a green … Continue reading Wojciechowski gets EP approval on second attempt
The 1 October Wojciechowski hearing is poor. Even when the chair of the AGRI committee asks for the MEPs to applaud the Commissioner-designate it is lukewarm, at best. Mr Wojciechowski's performance is the poorest of all the Commissioners heard to date. It did not matter he is a PiS affiliate. It did not matter he … Continue reading How bad did Wojciechowski perform?
Ever since the replacement of the next Polish Commissioner, Mr Wojciechowski has kept a low profile trying to avoid the temper of the gods of the European Parliament who are on the hunt in this years hearings. Today he takes the centre stage; will he pass the Parliamentary hearing? Janusz Wojciechowski is a 64 year … Continue reading Will Mr Wojciechowski pass the test?
The second to last element in the process of establishing the new European leadership is about to take place. The show will begin as each of the individual Commissioners-nominees will face the European Parliament committee or committees. In the committees public hearings are scheduled. Here is the itinerary of the upcoming shows: 30 September: Commissioners … Continue reading The Hearings Are Coming Up
Ursula von der Leyen is proud. Her College is gender almost-balanced. There are 27 members, 14 men and 13 women. There were never as many ladies in the European Commission college. Yet, is this truly her College? Yes, she asked for female candidates. She also asked for two candidates to chose from. In the past … Continue reading Ursula’s College: the critical approach
On 13 October, Poles will go to the polls to chose their parliament. Who will rule Poland for the next four years? What are different political actors fighting for in this elections?
It is evening, 19 August 2019. Another sunny, hot day. The climate change shows its positive side for holiday-makers, as there are thousands of people on the sunny sandy beaches over the southern Baltic coast and thousands more hike the hills and mountains of south Poland. 30 degrees in the shade, and the political campaign … Continue reading The Ministry of Hate
Krzysztof Szczerski will not be a European Commissioner.
Jarosław Kaczyński sees a conspiracy between independent judiciary, European Union and LGBT
Marek Kuchciński is no longer Speaker of the Sejm. His flights scandal made him grounded.
Poland's national elections campaign is on! 13 October is the date.
Ursula von der Leyen has a busy summer. She is touring the EU capitals searching for her Commissioners. By now she's been in Paris, Warsaw, Rome and Budapest, among other capital cities. In Warsaw she found her Polish Commissioner. On her visit to Warsaw on 25 July Ursula von der Leyen underlines that there is … Continue reading The Quest for the Commissioner is (not yet) over
There are 20 Committees in the European Parliament and 2 sub-Committees. There are 51 MEPs elected in Poland. Who sits where? Here is the list of all the MEPs elected in Poland who are either full members or substitutes in the Committees: Foreign Affairs (AFET): 10 MEPs Robert Biedroń, S&DAdam Bielan, ECRWłodzimierz Cimoszewicz, S&D (ex-foreign … Continue reading Polish MEPs in EP Committees
Many countries have already appointed next Commissioners. There is a deficit of women. The Polish Commissioner is still missing. For the time being the list is closed. By the time Ursula von der Leyen comes to Warsaw the decision is most likely going to be announced later this week. The issue is reported in today's … Continue reading The Quest for a Polish Commissioner continues
In the European Elections 46% Poles took part, which is an astounding increase with the previous European votes in 2004, 2009 and 2014 (all with 20-25% participation level). In October 2018 during the local and regional elections some 55% Poles went to the polls. This was the best turn out in local and regional elections … Continue reading Polish democracy: gay rights or gay propaganda?
