Hector blogs on the Recent History of Poland

Ever since it ceded from the USSR in 1989, Poland was a symbol for democracy in the European sphere. But in 2017 on Poland’s Independence Day, something worrying happened. With the usual parades and speeches held by the state’s government, supporters and various groups participated with signs saying, “Death to enemies of the fatherland”, “all different, all white”, and “white Europe of Brotherly Nations”. 60,000 people showed up to this march condoning white nationalism. This isn’t happening for no reason however, they have reason to celebrate. Poland’s right wing political party PIS is in power.

After they won the presidency in 2015, as well as the majority in Parliament, they purged the military, took over the judiciary, and is seeking control over the media.

It is furthermore openly rebelling against the European Union.

Previously Poland was seem a model democratic nation, with the highest citizen approval rate of membership in the EU at 72%, furthermore gaining the approval for Donald Tusk, former polish prime minister to become president of the European Council in 2014.

 

However when Tusk left to join the EU in 2014, his coalition fell apart, and as a result PIS gained the majority. Claiming that after years of oppression and control from the Soviet Union. They claimed that the European Union was controlling them; and PIS would retake their independence, legally or illegally…

 

PIS has a majority in both Houses of Parliament and the executive, and they pushed on with a hostile takeover of the judiciary. Forcing out more than a third of the judges replacing them with loyal right wing judges, politicising the court. And with the majority in all branches they signed this illegal action into law. This led to the sacking of over 11,300 civil servants and purges with the military. Claiming the to be “unreformed enemies of the state”. As many PiS members are repented ex-communists.

As they continued with their politicised control they cracked down on movements against them, and ignored the EU and the warnings directed towards them.

 

For the first time in history in 2017 Article 7 was planned to be used. “The Council… May decide to suspend… the voting rights of the representative of the government of the Member State in the Council.” This is enacted for vote if “… the council… may determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2.”. However, this won’t work…

 

For article 7 to be executed it requires “The European Council, acting by unanimity”. Hungary has vowed to veto any punishments directed to Poland, leaning to authoritarianism and being a former soviet bloc country. Allowing Poland to reap the economic benefits of the EU while evading the law.

 

Thus undermining the whole point of the EU’s creation with no clear method to take on Poland’s actions.