Back in 2018, as Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) neared the end of its first term in office, its leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, told one newspaper that his radical right project had only just begun. “We are preparing a long march,” said Mr Kaczyński, “one needs, not two, but three terms.”
On Sunday, Poles turned out in extraordinary numbers determined to thwart that ambition, and they appear to have succeeded in remarkable fashion. Provisional results indicate that the highest election turnout since the fall of communism delivered a famous and unexpectedly clear victory for the opposition coalition of parties. Though PiS emerged once more as the largest electoral force, it lost its majority and seemingly has no viable route to constructing a new one. For Poland, and for the rest of Europe, this constitutes a hugely consequential result. For progressives, it is one to celebrate. » | Editorial | Monday, October 16, 2023
Fresh air has blown over Poland; hopefully, it will keep on blowing. Eastern Europe needs plenty more fresh air. Now, as a result of this great election result – a warm welcome back, Mr Tusk! – all of Europe will be able to breathe more easily again. The cobwebs are being blown away, slowly but surely. – © Mark Alexander
With Opposition Gains, Poland Looks to Unwind an ‘Illiberal Democracy’: With all of the votes counted, liberal parties have probably won by enough to assemble a new coalition. The governing party can still form its own, but the prospects look dim. »
