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Poland has opened its border with Ukraine to war refugees. Not so at another border, with Belarus. Since February 24th, more than 4.5 million people have entered Poland fleeing from Ukraine. This influx of war refugees met an open border and an unprecedented grassroots response. Citizens organised help: they took families home, brought food, offered transport. According to opinionContinue reading “The paradox of Polish migration policy”

Poland’s PiS may try to build not only an illiberal but also anti-German coalition in Europe — making it a tough partner for Germany’s new government After the end of the Merkel era, Germany’s newly formed progressive coalition heralds a wind of change in German politics. But the new government will have to face oldContinue reading “How the Polish-German relationship turned sour”

by Maria Skóra on 21st December 2021 Poland’s ruling nationalists aren’t having it all their own way. The opposition needs more external recognition. Early this month, leading figures on the European populist right met in Warsaw. They had been invited by Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS). The summit was attended—to name only theContinue reading “A tale of loss and hope: what can we learn from Poland?”

The Polish president owes his re-election to PiS. But he will have to counter Kaczynski’s attempts to subordinate him. The 13 November marked one hundred days of Polish president Andrzej Duda’s second term in office. Being the incumbent always comes with a sort of advantage but Andrzej Duda did not have it easy – andContinue reading “100 days of Andrzej Duda: a test of character”

The passion behind the demonstrations signifies a battle for basic democratic standards in a world of creeping authoritarian temptations. On October 22nd, the Constitutional Court in Poland made an unprecedented decision, declaring abortion due to foetal defects unconstitutional. Because around 90 per cent of all legal abortions in the country are performed on this criterion, upon enteringContinue reading “Poland’s abortion protests—democratic standards at stake”

Presidential elections in Poland: preferences of the Polish diaspora On July 12, the second round of presidential election took place in Poland. This was a special race, not only due to unprecedented pandemic circumstances. The competition between Andrzej Duda (supported by the United Right coalition led by the Law and Justice party, PiS) and hisContinue reading “Divided society, divided diaspora”

The presidential election in Poland was an intolerant affair—and the argument isn’t over yet. On July 12th, the second round of the presidential election took place in Poland. Not only the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic but also its significance for the country’s future made this a special race. In the end, supported by theContinue reading “Poles apart—the presidential election in Poland”