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Polish Parliamentary (Sejm) elections yesterday have resulted in a win for what is considered the more right wing Law and Justice Party (PiS). The former Government of Civic Platform (PO) conceded defeat after the exit poll predicted a PiS vote of 39% compared to PO vote of some 24%.
The PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski (identical twin of Lech Kaczynski who died in the Smolensk air crash) is not likely to become Prime Minister, the proposed PM is Beata Szydlo, who ran Duda's successful Presidential campaign. If the exit polls prove correct PiS may have a slim majority in the Sejm and not need to form a coalition. This has not been achieved in Poland since the fall of communism. Again IF the exit polls prove correct none of the former communist parties will manage to gain a sufficient percentage of the vote to be represented in the Sejm. Meanwhile some have expressed concern of a 'PiS dictatorship' with changes in the Constitution, absolute banning of abortion etc etc sighted as fears. Others speak of the 'Orbanisation' of Poland referring to Viktor Orban, the PM of Hungary. Many are surprised that during 2 terms of sustained economic growth lead by the Civic Platform Party that Poles, who are probably as a country richer than at any time in the past consider it wise to do away with a proven formula.
Politics in Central Europe is not like that of France, UK, US and Canada etc; left and right mean different things. PiS is considerably more 'left wing' economically than the former Government; benefit increases and tax breaks are promised as well as lower retirement age. Presumably alot of funding for the rural areas in the eastern half of Poland, from which core support derives will come too. Meanwhile in foreign policy they are more traditionally 'right wing'; defence expenditure is likely to rise, the 'citizen militias' be incorporated into a Ukrainian style 'National Guard', support for Ukraine and the Międzymorze/Intermarium increase and the NATO commitment rise. They are very unlikely to enter the euro and are more 'euroskeptic' in the sense of some British Conservatives; "The issue of sovereignty is a very basic one for us. In this aspect, I generally share position of PM Cameron" said President Duda.
The PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski (identical twin of Lech Kaczynski who died in the Smolensk air crash) is not likely to become Prime Minister, the proposed PM is Beata Szydlo, who ran Duda's successful Presidential campaign. If the exit polls prove correct PiS may have a slim majority in the Sejm and not need to form a coalition. This has not been achieved in Poland since the fall of communism. Again IF the exit polls prove correct none of the former communist parties will manage to gain a sufficient percentage of the vote to be represented in the Sejm. Meanwhile some have expressed concern of a 'PiS dictatorship' with changes in the Constitution, absolute banning of abortion etc etc sighted as fears. Others speak of the 'Orbanisation' of Poland referring to Viktor Orban, the PM of Hungary. Many are surprised that during 2 terms of sustained economic growth lead by the Civic Platform Party that Poles, who are probably as a country richer than at any time in the past consider it wise to do away with a proven formula.
Politics in Central Europe is not like that of France, UK, US and Canada etc; left and right mean different things. PiS is considerably more 'left wing' economically than the former Government; benefit increases and tax breaks are promised as well as lower retirement age. Presumably alot of funding for the rural areas in the eastern half of Poland, from which core support derives will come too. Meanwhile in foreign policy they are more traditionally 'right wing'; defence expenditure is likely to rise, the 'citizen militias' be incorporated into a Ukrainian style 'National Guard', support for Ukraine and the Międzymorze/Intermarium increase and the NATO commitment rise. They are very unlikely to enter the euro and are more 'euroskeptic' in the sense of some British Conservatives; "The issue of sovereignty is a very basic one for us. In this aspect, I generally share position of PM Cameron" said President Duda.
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