(Reuters) – Poland will have a parliamentary election on Sunday, and the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party is aiming for an unprecedented third term in power. PiS has been in power for eight years.
What is at stake in this election? Critics argue that if PiS wins a third term, Poland will continue to drift further away from democratic standards. They accuse the current government of politicizing the judiciary, using state resources to solidify its power, and turning public media into a propaganda tool. Additionally, they claim that PiS is undermining Poland’s position within the European Union.
In response, PiS states that its main goals are to make the courts more effective, create a fairer economy, and protect Poland’s Catholic identity in the face of Western liberal pressures.
Here are some key details about the elections: Voters will select 460 members of the Sejm lower house for a four-year term through a party list proportional representation system in 41 constituencies. They will also elect 100 members of the upper chamber Senate through the first-past-the-post method in 100 constituencies. Poles can also participate in a referendum on various issues, including immigration, retirement age, and selling national assets to foreign entities.
More than 29 million people are eligible to vote. Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on October 15. Candidates are required to end their campaigns by midnight on October 13.
There will be a ban on reporting news, forecasts, and commentaries about the elections 24 hours before voting day until the end of voting. However, media outlets will be allowed to report election results starting at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT). By the end of Sunday, a clear indication of the election outcome may be available, but final results are expected by October 17.
Let’s take a look at some of the major parties and their pledges:
Law and Justice (PiS): Despite facing accusations of undermining democratic rules and reshaping Poland based on conservative values, PiS has gained popularity due to its welfare programs and minimum wage hikes. PiS promises to increase social spending and expand the standing army to 300,000 soldiers. The party aims to support Ukraine against Russia while safeguarding Poland’s own interests. It also seeks greater independence within the European Union and opposes the EU Pact on Migration.
Civic Coalition (KO): This main opposition coalition, which includes the liberal Civic Platform, Greens, Modern, and Polish Initiative, plans to dismantle PiS’s judicial reforms to access EU recovery funds. It also pledges to improve Poland’s strained relations with the EU, guarantee media freedoms, and liberalize the abortion law, which has been heavily restricted since 2021.
The Third Way: Comprising Poland 2050 and the Polish Peasant’s Party (PSL), this center-right coalition aims to simplify the tax system, support small businesses, and increase education spending. To enter parliament, this alliance needs to secure at least 8% of the votes.
The New Left: With around 10% polling, the New Left is a possible coalition partner for KO and the Third Way. They focus on labor law reforms, empowering trade unions, and advocating for a shorter workweek and more vacation days. The party also fights for women’s rights, including the liberalization of the abortion law, and promotes LGBT rights, such as same-sex marriage.
Confederation: The far-right Confederation criticizes what it sees as the government’s subservient stance towards Ukraine. It opposes social benefits for Ukrainian refugees, prioritizes Poland’s military over providing arms to Kyiv, advocates for the abolition of certain taxes, supports coal mining, and aims to combat illegal migration.
Reporting by Canan Sevgili and Mateusz Rabiega; Editing by Milla Nisi, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Alan Charlish, and Gareth Jones
Credit: The Star : News Feed
