Czechia: PM Babiš’ center-right ANO movement dominates Czech regional elections
The two men came from Libya and Algeria, and wanted to reach Germany, which has recently experienced a jump in coronavirus cases
Slovak opposition fails to unite
There is a risk of a deadlock after the election.
PiS slipping in its very own Ohio
The election defeats suffered by the ruling party in smaller cities should be a worry. “As in the USA, elections are not won in New York and Los Angeles, but in Ohio or Pennsylvania,” writes Michał Kolanko in “Rzeczpospolita”.
Liberal cities, conservative interior
The key cleavage in Polish politics is no longer regional, but between city areas and rural and small town areas, writes political scientist Antoni Dudek in his post-election blog.
PiS losing mayoral races in the big cities
Sunday’s second round of mayoral elections in Kraków, Gdańsk and Kielce produced no major surprises. According to exit polls in all three cities the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) candidates lost by a margin of almost 2-1.
Rebuild the confederation of free citizens!
The engagement of Polish citizens was lacking during Poland’s municipal elections. Adrian Stankowski draws attention to the civil phenomenon which had greatly influenced PiS’ victories in 2015 but was nowhere to be seen during the municipal elections.
Kaczyński calls for unity and says PiS victory will lead to serious change in Poland
Law and Justice chairman Jarosław Kaczyński declared that the PiS victory will lead to serious change in Poland. The PiS leader also underlined the need to equalize Poland’s GDP to Germany, if Poles are to have salaries as high as Germans.
History still wins votes in Poland
The National Electoral Commission (PKW) has released official collective results of the Polish municipal elections. PiS won with a significant advantage, but the historic lines of divide between Poles are still visible.
Sentenced by the courts but chosen by the people
In several Polish constituencies, the candidates running for mayor positions have been sentenced by courts. Sławomir Cedzyński of TVP Info analyses the political and legal consequences of this phenomenon.
Analysis: PiS is still doing well, but the opposition is on their heels
Although Law and Justice (PiS) won the popular vote, the Civic Coalition (KO) will probably govern the regional councils (“sejmiks”). In an interview for TVP Info, political marketing expert, Dr. Sergiusz Trzeciak discusses how the local election results will translate into reality.
Wałęsa voted in a “Constitution” shirt
Lech Wałęsa went to vote in a “KONSTYTUCJA” (constitution) long-sleeve t-shirt, which was seen as a political manifesto. In his last interview before municipal elections in Poland Wałęsa declared that Law and Justice (PiS) is worse than Stalinism and Nazism.
Opposition takes Warsaw in Round One
The candidates for Mayor of Warsaw share their gratitude on social media. Rafał Trzaskowski (KO) boasted of his victory and Patryk Jaki (PiS) gracefully congratulated his opponent.
PiS won, but not in the big cities
According to late exit polls, Law and Justice (PiS) is in the lead, with the Civic Coalition (KO) in second and the surprisingly strong peasant party (PSL) third. The 2018 local elections saw the highest turnout in Polish history.
This revolution is not finished yet!
“There were hardships, but this road has led us to a Poland we could’ve only dreamed of.” The head of Gazeta Polska Codziennie Tomasz Sakiewicz outlines why the elections in 2015 were a peaceful revolution which changed Poland for the better and why this revolution needs to be continued in the upcoming election.
Morawiecki: We won’t take power away from local governments
Two days before local elections in Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denies that Law and Justice wants to take power away from local governments.
Kaczyński urges Poland to catch up with the West
The main goal is to “catch up with the West, when it comes to the GDP per capita, when it comes to the standard of living and the functioning of state institutions,” said the PiS leader during his campaign speech in Otwock near Warsaw.
Nazi shadow over Polish political campaign
There is nationwide condemnation of Nazi style attacks on PiS by PO politicians. Grzegorz Schetyna, PO leader called PiS voters “locusts” and another PO politician posted a Goebbels-like poster on Twitter.
The final stretch
Law and Justice (PiS) has changed the local election into a plebiscite: for or against the “Good Change”. Piotr Zaremba warns that if PiS does not win enough local governments (“Sejmiks”), the opposition will crown themselves the winners.
Warsaw has lost billions
Under Civic Platform (PO) governing, Warsaw has lost more than PLN21 billion on the reprivatization affair.
ANO wins election in major cities except Prague
Babis’s ANO party remains the most popular group in the country. It has won all regional capitals except two – Prague and Liberec. Right-wing Civic democratic Party (ODS) strengthened its position as well as the Pirate Party.
Tusk enters the game
Donald Tusk expected to have a hero’s welcome in Kraków. Instead, only a handful of people went to greet him at the Main Square. The President of the European Council responded to the Polish PM’s jibe at Tusk not working enough during his terms as PM and “kicking the ball around” instead.
Kaczyński: I trust Morawiecki, his choice as a PM was a “bullseye”
Jarosław Kaczyński, Law and Justice (PiS) leader declared his absolute trust for Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. “Morawiecki is destroying the VAT mafia just like a brave policeman from Chicago had destroyed Al Capone’s mafia,” says Kaczyński.
Failed attack on Morawiecki
Web portal Onet.pl has revealed all the bugged Mateusz Morawiecki tapes before he became Prime Minister. These tapes have already been discussed and contain nothing that could compromise the PM.
Vote for me and I will build a McDonald’s in town, says mayoral candidate
The candidate for mayor of Sokołów Podlaski has promised his voters to build a McDonald’s if he wins. The restaurant chain has responded.
Poland: Campaign is heating up
“There were no bigger liars in the history of the Third Polish Republic than Civic Platform (PO) politicians,” says Law and Justice (PiS) spokeswoman Beata Mazurek in defense of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Kaczyński decides elections first, knee operation later
Despite a damaged knee, Law and Justice (PiS) Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński is actively helping Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on the campaign trail. Kaczyński’s operation is to take place after the elections, reports Super Express.
Kaczyński and Morawiecki lead PiS’s campaign
Law and Justice (PiS) promotes its election program during regional conventions. Both party chairman Jarosław Kaczyński and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki have taken to the campaign trail.
Barbara Nowacka Grzegorz Schetyna Local Elections Poland Politics Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz Commentary Civic coalition and its allies move to the left
Grzegorz Schetyna unveils the new program of the Civic Coalition (KO) and is moving the opposition further to the political Left. Michał Kolanko analyzes the newest developments in Poland’s opposition camp as well as reactions to them.
Civic Platform’s promises always turn out to be the opposite
Blogger Dominik Ognisty warns of Civic Platform (PO) election promises. He says that they are never fulfilled and that all PO has to offer is hatred towards Law and Justice (PiS).
Kaczyński: Our victory will serve equality
“Law and Justice’s (PiS) victory will serve equality,” says Jarosław Kaczyński. The chairman of PiS outlined how his party will solve the problem of wealth disparities in Poland.
PiS in the lead before local elections
Law and Justice (PiS) leads in regional legislatures according to a new IBRiS poll. PiS may win in 12 out of 16 Voivodships.
PiS bets on credibility
“Credibility is the leading and fundamental principle of Law and Justice’s (PiS) campaign,” says professor Norbert Maliszewski. After the spectacular party convention, he explains why voters can trust PiS and how they have achieved their trustworthiness.
Morawiecki’s support for Polish farmers
Hitting the campaign trail, the Polish prime minister calls for further support for Polish farmers. With local elections coming in October, he reminds Poles how much Law and Justice has accomplished.
Jaruzelski’s daughter enters politics
Monika Jaruzelska, the daughter of the last president of the communist Polish People’s Republic (PRL) seeks entry into Polish politics. Jaruzelska declares support for Law and Justice’s social reforms but in the upcoming local elections she will have the backing of postcommunists