Poland election

[Allo V Psycho]

Looking reasonably positive here at the moment - enough for us to crack a bottle. Hopefully, defeat for PiS will release EU funds held up because PiS are a..eholes. Mind you, there is also the thought that it may take 8 years or so to unpick the corruption of the civil service and other government structures (TV and media, petrol stations, etc, turned into political pawns).

[Grumble]

I can’t imagine that anyone other than proper headbangers would look at the U.K. and think, you know what, I reckon Poland should leave the EU.

[Woodchopper]

Huge turnout, especially among younger people. Which is good for many reasons.

Looks like a focus on economic development and competent administration was more popular than culture war obsession.
The Centre is holding.

Hopefully the new administration can unpick the institutional damage done.

[Herainestold]

Will the new government still support Ukraine to the same extent?

[jdc]

Will the new government still support Ukraine to the same extent?

Here you go:

"Ukraine ally Poland is moving to the political center. And that’s bad news for Russia’s Putin":

“From the regional perspective, the opposition’s victory prevents the emergence of a populist Euroskeptic alliance in Central Europe (along with Hungary and Slovakia), which could have brought more internal tensions in the EU,” Sili Tian, Europe analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, said in a note Monday.

Tian also expects the result to “reposition Poland as a staunch supporter of Ukraine” and for Tusk to push for EU accession for Ukraine.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/20/ukraine ... putin.html

"Polish opposition leader calls for unwavering military aid to Ukraine":

Polish opposition leader and former Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for unwavering military aid to Ukraine ahead of Poland’s Oct. 15 parliamentary elections, BILD reported on Sept. 27.

"The victory of Ukraine is in the national interests of Poland for sure," said Tusk. "This will affect both economic issues and the problem of refugees. The Polish state should not budge from its position, military support of Ukraine should not be questioned."

Poland's support came under question recently when Tusk's opponent, incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, said on Sept. 20 that Poland needed to focus on strengthening its own military arsenal and would no longer supply weapons to Ukraine.

Later, officials clarified that Poland will meet all its existing agreements on arms deliveries.

https://kyivindependent.com/polish-oppo ... raine-aid/

"Polish Opposition Leader Donald Tusk declares an election win — so what does this mean for relations with Ukraine?"

While Poland has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia invaded and a transit hub for Western weapons, relations chilled over the Ukrainian grain that entered Poland's market.

With tensions rising, and as the Confederation party's numbers grew, Poland's prime minister said his country was no longer sending weapons to Kyiv — this is despite being the first NATO member to send Ukraine weapons.

The Confederation party campaigned on an anti-Ukraine message, accusing the country of lacking gratitude to Poland for its help in Russia's war. Its poor showing will be a relief for Kyiv.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-16/ ... /102981904