During eight years in power, PiS has become a European brand leader for illiberal politics. In government it has gradually taken a wrecking ball to the checks, balances and cultural assumptions that underpin mainstream democracies. The independence of the judiciary and media has been undermined, and state television turned into a mouthpiece for PiS propaganda. Conservative Catholic influence has been mobilised in a draconian crackdown on abortion rights, prompting mass protests.
These are potential problems and issues for the future though. The stunning 73% turnout on Sunday – 11% higher than in 2019 – testifies to a popular mobilisation against PiS that has stopped Mr Kaczyński’s “long march” in its tracks. The young, in particular, seem to have heeded calls to make their votes count. Those who did have played their part in an uplifting and vital reaffirmation of liberal democratic values in Poland.
Domestically, repairing the civic and constitutional damage done over the past eight years will not be straightforward. Andrzej Duda, the country’s PiS-aligned president, remains in office, and managing a coalition government comprising Mr Tusk’s centrist Civic Platform party, the centre-right and the left promises to be complicated. Exit poll voting data from Sunday confirms the depth of the support that PiS retains in provincial and rural areas, and among the less well educated. If Mr Tusk wishes to unify a polarised country after the bitterest of campaigns, he will need to offer more to such constituencies.
Analysis@theGrunadina
Young urban progressives out-vote Old rural dinosaurs.
These are potential problems and issues for the future though. The stunning 73% turnout on Sunday – 11% higher than in 2019 – testifies to a popular mobilisation against PiS that has stopped Mr Kaczyński’s “long march” in its tracks. The young, in particular, seem to have heeded calls to make their votes count. Those who did have played their part in an uplifting and vital reaffirmation of liberal democratic values in Poland.
Domestically, repairing the civic and constitutional damage done over the past eight years will not be straightforward. Andrzej Duda, the country’s PiS-aligned president, remains in office, and managing a coalition government comprising Mr Tusk’s centrist Civic Platform party, the centre-right and the left promises to be complicated. Exit poll voting data from Sunday confirms the depth of the support that PiS retains in provincial and rural areas, and among the less well educated. If Mr Tusk wishes to unify a polarised country after the bitterest of campaigns, he will need to offer more to such constituencies.
Analysis@theGrunadina
Young urban progressives out-vote Old rural dinosaurs.
