16 October 2023 - Online Elections Monitor
Speakers: Maria Skóra, Research Associate, Institut für Europäische Politik; Monika Sus, Associate Professor of Political Science, Polish Academy of Sciences; Tomasz Bielecki, EU and NATO correspondent, Deutsche Welle Polish Section and Gazeta Wyborcza
Moderator: Teona Lavrelashvili, Policy Analyst & Coordinator of the EPC Task Force on the Future of EU Enlargement, European Policy Centre
On 15 October, Polish citizens voted to determine the composition of the new parliament. This election was pivotal for Poland's future and its relationship with the European Union, especially given the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine.
During its two terms, Poland’s ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), has experienced tensions with Brussels, primarily due to controversial judicial reforms that led to a freezing of funds by the EU. The strained relationship began to thaw following Poland's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Will Poland form a functioning government? How will the election results impact Poland's democratic development and its relations with strategic partners? And how might it influence the balance of power in the lead-up to next year’s EU elections?
