In an op-ed in the New York Times Jaroslav Kuisz and Karolina Wigura pain a picture of a decreasingly liberal Poland. Here’s the kernel:
The government, led by the hard-right Law and Justice party since 2015, has taken over key state institutions such as the public media, curtailed the independence of the judiciary and instituted draconian abortion laws. To neutralize opponents, almost all political tricks are allowed: wiretapping, denigration and even outright lies. With crucial parliamentary elections coming this autumn, the electoral process has been tinkered with to favor the incumbents and a new bill passed that could remove opponents from political life on the pretext of acting under Russian influence. In its bid to secure a third term, the Law and Justice party is leaving nothing to chance.
The party’s success has been built on targeted social transfers, genuflection to the country’s Catholic identity and avowed nationalism. But it also owes a lot to skillfully played campaigns of collective fear and demonization. For much of the party’s eight years in office, migrants, women and sexual minorities have been the chief targets. The government also regularly attacks the opposition, often in luridly conspiratorial terms. Its ministers and supporters suggest, for example, that the leader of the opposition and a former prime minister, Donald Tusk, plotted the plane crash that killed the Polish president in 2010. However outlandish, such conspiracy theories play into — and amplify — a pervasive fear that things are changing rapidly for the worse.
I presume that some would describe our relationship with Poland with an old proverb: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I would use another: he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.
For a long time our policy with regards to Eastern Europe has been largely formed by Poles, Ukrainians, and nostalgia. IMO it’s long past time to reconsider. By “reconsider” I don’t mean “abandon”. I mean come to an understanding better founded in facts.
Is it me, or practically all the complaints about illiberalism seem to view Polish politics through the lens of US culture wars?
“taken over key state institutions such as the public media” — the current President removed the top leadership of Voice of America on his first day of office.
“the electoral process has been tinkered with to favor the incumbents” — this describes every incumbent in this country.
“remove opponents from political life on the pretext of acting under Russian influence” — didn’t this country do a “witchhunt” on a former President for exactly that?
“instituted draconian abortion laws” — only if viewed from America’s culture wars and the formerly extremely liberal regime under Roe vs Wade. Recall, Ireland only repealed its constitutional amendment banning abortion in 2018.
“The government also regularly attacks the opposition, often in luridly conspiratorial terms” — I recall the current President accused his political opponents of “representing extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic” just last fall.
There are valid criticisms like curtailing the independence of the judiciary…. but a lot of it seems to be sour gripes that the “right” party isn’t in power.
“the current President removed the top leadership of Voice of America on his first day of office.”
Trump had installed MAGA people into leadership positions and they had been eliminating reporters/editors who didnt support Trump. This seems much more like replacing cabinet secretaries. In the US the equivalent would be Biden naming Michael Moore to lead Fox or Trump putting Hannity in charge of the NYT.
” this describes every incumbent in this country.” It’s a mater of degree.
“didn’t this country do a “witchhunt†on a former President for exactly that?” Nope. The “witch” didnt even have to testify. That only happens when the witch is a Democrat.
“only if viewed from America’s culture wars” Nope, largely because people still dont (want to) understand European laws. Most American abortion advocates would gladly exchange Roe v Wade for European practices. Europe largely pays for abortions, doesnt make it hard to obtain them with required delays or unnecessary testing, it makes them widely available geographically and provides exceptions for medical reasons. It’s a shorter trip from Ireland to the UK that it is from the interior of Texas to an abortion clinic out fo state. It largely leaves it as a pt-physician interaction. Given these changes most people would accept an earlier term cut off.
“f “representing extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic†” Rejecting the results of a free and very well investigated election seems to fit this pretty well. Disagreement always exist on policy but the denial of election results was unique. (No, this is nothing like 2016 and questioning if there were outside influences on the election. That false equivalence remains stupid, the best I can say about it.)
Steve
So, it seems we have agreement that that there is no difference between Poland and the US in terms of how the respective Governments function. Only the winners and victims change.