The Polish national leaders are leading a narrative that the European Union needs to reform, and should it fail to reform it faces a defeat, a failure, a cataclysm. The Polish pundits, one by one seem to follow this magical trick and consider the EU an external, an alien, a hostile force. One just example … Continue reading Is the EU democratic?
Tag: European Parliament
EP post-Brexit: the End of Centre-Left Majority
Brexit is looming on the European Parliament. A few days ago the EP's research service published a simulation showing how the Parliament changes on 1 February 2020, the day EU shrinks to 27 member states. The main consequence for the delicate balance in the fragmented Parliament is the end of the minimal centre-left majority in … Continue reading EP post-Brexit: the End of Centre-Left Majority
2 Commissioners missing
Today there were hearings in the European Parliament. Extra hearings following the rejection of the initial candidates for Commissioners from Romania, Hungary and France. The replacement candidates who did well are the two: Adina-Ioana Vălean of Romania, who is scheduled to be the Commissioner for transport, and Thierry Breton of France, who will be responsible … Continue reading 2 Commissioners missing
Wojciechowski gets EP approval on second attempt
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 Hearings Are Coming Up
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
Krasnodębski is NOT a Vice-President. How come?
There are 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament. Elected in three rounds on Wednesday, here they are: The natural thing for the European Parliament in choosing its vice-president is to do so by a consensus between the political groups. Except for, there is no consensus in this new European Parliament. Cordon sanitaire There are two … Continue reading Krasnodębski is NOT a Vice-President. How come?
The Italian Affair
The next day starts with the big news of yesterday: Ursula is the new Queen of Europe. Yikes! In Poland the debate is if this is a true win for the Polish government or not so much. Let us put this empty debate aside. Not relevant for the future if you sell something as a … Continue reading The Italian Affair
Habemus papam… not yet
2 July 2019, a series of tweets of Donald Tusk: https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1146102183034785792 https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1146102257555050496 https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1146102340732235776 https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1146102409959227395 This is the package negotiated by the European Council. No place for Mr Weber. No place for Mr Timmermans. Why? The European People's Party got stubborn in their demands for an EPP politician on top of the next European Commission. If … Continue reading Habemus papam… not yet
The Battle of 2 ex-PMs in the European Parliament is looming
Two weeks ago the new European Parliament is chosen. Today the politicians and the media in Poland are already focused on the next hurdle, the Sejm and the Senate elections in October. Meanwhile, the new European Parliament is self-organizing, taking shape and taking its first decisions. The European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group … Continue reading The Battle of 2 ex-PMs in the European Parliament is looming
MEPs elected in Poland 2019-2024
Here is the complete list of 51 MEPs and 1 in-waiting elected in Poland for the 9th term of the European Parliament 2019-2014. 26 of them will go to ECR (PiS), 17 to EPP (PO & PSL) and 8 to S&D (SLD & Spring). Magdalena Adamowicz, European Coalition, widow of Paweł Adamowicz, murdered mayor of … Continue reading MEPs elected in Poland 2019-2024
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?
Tusk goes political & violent incidents in South Poland
The last weekend before the European elections the Polish campaign is gaining speed. The paedophilia covered in the Catholic Church dominates the debate. With the 18 May march in Warsaw and reinforcement in the person of Donald Tusk, the European Coalition motivates its supporters and hopes to outplay Law and Justice. 18 May, morning, Warsaw: … Continue reading Tusk goes political & violent incidents in South Poland
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
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
Hübner & Boni still fight for the MEP seat
Two of some of the best politicians in the outgoing European Parliament (judging by the amount of MEP Awards nominations, alone...) have been elected five years before from the Warsaw electoral district. This spring they both faced a non-inclusion threat on the list of candidates' of the otherwise crowded European Coalition. The European Coalition puts … Continue reading Hübner & Boni still fight for the MEP seat
Hübner & Boni out of the European Parliament?
The European Coalition (KE) has presented its leaders in the upcoming European elections. Only a third of the current Civic Platform (PO) MEPs has a real life chance to return to the Strasbourg chamber in July. Some very well known MEPs are not coming back. The lead candidates are: Lewandowski is (almost) sure to return … Continue reading Hübner & Boni out of the European Parliament?
Future MEP seats
Come 26 May there are 705 MEPs. We are used to the same or similar number of MEPs being elected from each of the EU member countries. Yet the changes in the MEPs allocation not only reflect Brexit or EU enlargements. The changes in population also are included in the shifting seats. Degressive proportionality Seats … Continue reading Future MEP seats
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…