Dear Reader, In a form of a letter, let me try to cover the ongoing political issues related to the European Union. You are free to ask and to comment. You are free to disagree. Today is the last day of the old world. Today is the first day of the new world. Obviously. So, … Continue reading Political Europe & Me
Tag: Elections
Poland voted: the Senate results
PiS loses out in the Senate to the Opposition. Difficult time ahead. #Gimme5EU
Poland voted: the morning after
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
Poland voted: First reactions
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
Why the European Coalition lost?
It is a month since the European elections and the Civic Platform (PO) now knows why they lost the vote on 26 May. Here's what Gazeta Wyborcza published a few days ago on the issue. Those points come from within the PO's inner study. The exceptionally high turnout (46%, compared with 24% five years before), … Continue reading Why the European Coalition lost?
PiS is the winner
The final results are in. Law and Justice (PiS) wins in Poland for ECR. It shall bring in 26 MEPS, 27th in-waiting until Brexit. The European Coalition's 22 MEPs could be divided - most likely - into two groups in the European Parliament, 5 would go to the S&D and 17 to the EPP. The … Continue reading PiS is the winner
Will Poles double the turnout?
In the previous European elections Poles did not vote in big numbers. Turnout never was higher than 25%. This time it looks like things go differently. The Electoral Commission just informed that the turnout at 12:00 was 14.39%. This is almost double than five years before, when by midday the Polish turnout was at 7.31%. … Continue reading Will Poles double the turnout?
Rostowski: Brexit is the worst event in Western Europe since WW2
Brexit puts the details of the European elections in limbo. It looked like there will be 705 MEPs. Now it seems we will see the same number of MEPs as before: 751. With Britain or not, for the Polish MEPs it makes a difference of one mandate: with Britain in the EU there will be … Continue reading Rostowski: Brexit is the worst event in Western Europe since WW2
Only 6 Committees to run in EP elections in Poland
The Electoral Commission registered all the electoral lists and only six of them are registered in the entire country, hence are entitled to mandates, should they meet the 5% threshold in Poland. They are (with the list numbers next to them): Confederacy KORWiN Braun Liroy NationalistsSpring of BiedrońEuropean Coalition - PO, PSL, SLD, .N and … Continue reading Only 6 Committees to run in EP elections in Poland
Marek Jurek has a problem
Marek Jurek is a conservative MEP. In 2014 he is elected to the EP from the Law and Justice list and leaves the party a few weeks later. He is the most recognisable face of a small right-wing party, the Right Wing of the Republic (RWP, Prawica Rzeczypospolitej). Once, he was the Speaker of the … Continue reading Marek Jurek has a problem
PiS Europe Strategy
"For us, Moscow’s financing is a red line that cannot be crossed” says Zdzisław Krasnodębski, vice-president of the European Parliament, MEP with ECR/PiS After elections, there will be more than one group right-of-the-EPPECR has a Spitzenkandidat, too! The Polish ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) is a large party in a populous EU member state. … Continue reading PiS Europe Strategy
Timmermans has a shot
Frans Timmermans comes to Warsaw as a leading candidate of the European Social Democrats for the position of President of the European Commission. Frans Timmermans comes to Warsaw at the Commission's First Vice President in charge, inter alia, for the rule of law in member states. Frans Timmermans comes to Warsaw when the Brexit chaos … Continue reading Timmermans has a shot
The Scare v. The Big Lie
The campaign to the European Parliament in Poland revolves around the weekends, when all the major political blocks try to impose a new narrative. This weekend is no different. In the recent weeks PiS run an anti-LGBT campaign (failed) and a series of proposals with new spending programme (party successful). The European Coalition response so … Continue reading The Scare v. The Big Lie
The Group of Souverenists in the making
Remember the Salvini visit in Warsaw in January? That's past. On Wednesday, PiS Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński met with the delegation of Brothers of Italy, a ECR party from Italy with no MEPs yet. https://twitter.com/pisorgpl/status/1113414507731329024 The Brothers of Italy joined the ECR back in November. This seems to be a pattern: PiS looks for sovereignist partners … Continue reading The Group of Souverenists in the making
Orbán’s days in the EPP are…
Early March in Brussels is a cloudy weather for Fidesz, the Hungarian EPP member. Fidesz is a powerful national party in Hungary, ruling alone in Budapest since 2010. Fidesz is also a powerful party within the European People's Party. With 12 MEPs the Hungarian delegation in among the strongest in the EPP group. EPP's chief … Continue reading Orbán’s days in the EPP are…
Is the Spitzenkandidaten system dead?
2014. There are two candidates who compete for the presidency of the European Commission. Jean-Claude Juncker is the candidate of the European People's Party. Martin Schulz is the candidate of the Party of European Socialists. Other Spitzenkandidaten include the Greens' and the Liberals' candidates (Ska Keller and José Bové, Guy Verhofstadt) as well as the … Continue reading Is the Spitzenkandidaten system dead?
SLD and the Polish Greens join the European Coalition
The Polish Social-Democrats Democratic Left Alliance, SLD (members of S&D with 5 MEPs in the current EP) will not compete in the European Parliament elections on their own. In May 2019 they will run in a major pro-European bloc called the European Coalition. The Polish Greens also joined the bloc. Social-Democrats: we need one army … Continue reading SLD and the Polish Greens join the European Coalition
PiS leaks front people in EP elections
Yesterday evening the Polish media revealed the leading candidates of Law and Justice in the EP elections. As Poland is divided into 13 electoral districts the candidates who are PiS no.1 choices in each electoral district have very high chances of being elected into the EP. Here are the leaked names: Beata Szydło will be … Continue reading PiS leaks front people in EP elections
Poland’s EP elections latest opinion poll
From the mists of chaos the closer we are to 26 May, it seems there will be the following options to vote in the European elections in Poland. The latest figures have been provided by the Ibris polling institution. Law and Justice (PiS/ECR)37.1% and 22 MEPsCivic Platform (PO/EPP) within a likely coalition:SLD (S&D)PSL (EPP).Modern (ALDE)21.8% … Continue reading Poland’s EP elections latest opinion poll
European Coalition for Poland
The European Coalition for Poland is a new initiative of former Polish pro-European prime ministers and foreign ministers, who have joined forces to stop the anti-European march of the Law and Justice. Will they succeed? Will this push for unity among the opposition forces be successful? On February 1, the Civic Platform's leader Grzegorz Schetyna … Continue reading European Coalition for Poland