When the Council of the EU votes on energy transformation, environmental protection or transport, the PiS government is usually in the minority. The Eternal Question Since joining of the EU, Poland is facing the question of its own position in the Union. The question is linked to its size: Poland is the smallest among the … Continue reading Poland loses interest in EU
Tag: Law and Justice
Jarosław Kaczyński writes to voters
Almost two weeks after the Polish general elections the politics in Warsaw is fourfold. There is a fight for the control over the Senate where the united opposition parties snatched a tiny majority (51-49) over the ruling Law and Justice (PiS). PiS challenges outcome in six districts with limited chances of success. The other three … Continue reading Jarosław Kaczyński writes to voters
Political Europe & Me
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
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?
The European Nightmare of Polish Opposition
In the elections to the European Parliament the Polish Opposition run united as the "European Coalition". In their rhetoric, the leaders and the candidates warned the general public of the risk of "Polexit" that might be a secret strategy of the Polish government dominated by the conservative/nationalist Law and Justice party. Returning MEP Krzysztof Hetman … Continue reading The European Nightmare of Polish Opposition
Will the next Polish EU Commissioner be female?
Last time we wrote about who can be the Polish Commissioner in the next European Commission there were 6 names on the agenda. Four of them are still in play (Szymański, Fotyga, Bielan and Kwieciński), but there are three new names that come out after the European elections. All depends on the set-up of the … Continue reading Will the next Polish EU Commissioner be female?
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
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
Last days of the campaign
If you think Law and Justice (PiS) is anti-European, anti-systemic, anti-liberal democracy, think again. Not because Law and Justice presents itself as a modern, pro-European party with a logo "Poland at the heart of Europe" and with the European flag behind their backs. Law and Justice is a conservative party arguing in favour of Christian … Continue reading Last days of the campaign
Andrzej Duda: Europe it’s us
Poland's EU accession in 2004 is a success story. As such, it has many fathers. Today PiS politicians no longer talk of "imaginary community" or "ruined Poland". Today they are pro-European. Just listen to the Polish head of state talk. The EU enlargement of 2004 was the Union's biggest: 10 new countries joined on 1 … Continue reading Andrzej Duda: Europe it’s us
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
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
The Next Polish EU Commissioner
As the European elections come closer the issue of its outcome begins to unfold. The next European Commission, whoever is the next Commission President, will continue to have equal number of Commissioners to that of EU member states: 27, should Brexit truly take place. There are already first speculative names mentioned as potential future Commissioners … Continue reading The Next Polish EU Commissioner
Abascal in Warsaw
Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish party Vox arrives in Warsaw for a meeting with Jarosław Kaczyński, the chairman of Law and Justice (PiS). The purpose of the meeting? To meet and study each other, as both actors do not know each other too well. Exploration ahead of the next European Parliament. Vox, after all, … Continue reading Abascal in Warsaw
Children in the middle of the EP campaign
Law and Justice runs a campaign against the LGBT+ community accusing the opposition of an ideological war and "sexualisation of children";Teachers' unions go on strike: derailment of the spring exams in sight and maybe even graduation;The Youth Climate Strikes hit the Polish streets;The Catholic Church in Poland releases its statistics about paedophilia. Law and Justice … Continue reading Children in the middle of the EP campaign
PiS EP tactics: buy & scare
23 February, Jarosław Kaczyński, PiS chairman enters the stage to present PiS' new political offer. On the agenda are five key points, which soon are labelled "the Kaczyński Five". In the following days the details come in. Are votes for sale? Or the Kaczyński Five: The most radiant is the extension of the PiS government … Continue reading PiS EP tactics: buy & scare
The kind of Europe PiS wants
Everyday news is one thing. The Harrold Macmillan words "Events, dear boy, events" rule the politics and the media attention. What grows underneath in the country is not exactly catchy on a specific day. Yet to know why people say what they say is often as important as what they say. Not only the specific … Continue reading The kind of Europe PiS wants