ASSESSMENTS

In Poland, Elections Mark the End of an Era

Oct 24, 2015 | 13:40 GMT

Supporters of the Law and Justice party attend a party convention in Warsaw on Oct. 22, ahead of weekend general elections.

(JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

Poland will hold general elections on Oct. 25 in a vote that could bring eight years of center-right Civic Platform rule to an end. At issue are Poland's pro-market domestic policies, which have allowed it to grow even during the eurozone crisis but have led to more inequality. Opinion polls suggest that the conservative Law and Justice party will win, although the post-election coalition talks could be fraught with difficulty. Whether or not the ruling party loses power, Poland's foreign policy priorities will not change. Warsaw will continue to maintain close ties with the United States and NATO while supporting Ukraine, diversifying energy suppliers and pushing for a continued tough EU stance on Russia.

Poland is still very much a nation in transition. This is most evident in its capital and largest city, Warsaw. The city center, bombed into ruin during World War II, has been rebuilt as a sort of living museum – a reminder of the country's past. But surrounding the historic center, tall glass buildings showcase Poland's new ambition: to become a key Central and Eastern European business hub. Large infrastructure projects -- most notably the massive stadium where part of the 2012 European football championship was played -- offer a glimpse of Polish modernization fueled by foreign investment and EU development funds. Poland will hold general elections on Oct. 25 in a vote that could bring eight years of center-right Civic Platform rule to an end. ...

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