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
Tag: PiS
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Euro question…
Poland is outside of the Eurozone, together with Sweden, Denmark, Czechia and Hungary. Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia joined the EU later and are on their way to the Eurozone, at least this is what one hears... "Should Poland join the Eurozone?" is not the question on people's minds this elections. At least, not until Saturday, … Continue reading The Euro question…
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
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
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
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
PiS fights the Solidarność heritage
Back in time: in 1980s a massive political opposition to the Communist government of Poland arises under the name Solidarność. It has its leaders and structure. It works under the spiritual leadership of the Pope of the Catholic Church and a fellow Pole John Paul II. Solidarność is popular: at the peak of its days … Continue reading PiS fights the Solidarność heritage
The Kaczyński Tapes
On Tuesday morning yesterday news feel like last winter Olympics: long gone. Monday is full of corruption stories. This week's Monday is an entrée for the big story, as announced, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Tuesday comes, people wake up early. People buy Gazeta Wyborcza paper edition for the first time in years. They read … Continue reading The Kaczyński Tapes
Four Corruption Waves Hit PiS
It is a common knowledge: corruption scandals take down governments. How you deal with them is crucial for any party survival. Three years into government, PiS is facing challenges on multiple fronts. Case 1: Military Equipment On Monday a bombshell hits the Polish morning news: Bartłomiej M., a former advisor and protégé of the powerful … Continue reading Four Corruption Waves Hit PiS