Right-Wingers Win Parliamentary Elections in Poland

The right-wing and conservative party 'Law and Justice' has achieved a significant victory in the parliamentary elections held on October 25 in Poland, after years of struggle. Initial results indicate that this party may be able to form a government for the first time since the collapse of communism in 1989, without forming a coalition with other parties. The government in Poland is run by a prime minister, who is elected by the winning party. The country also has a presidential office that holds powers in foreign and defense policy. The current President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is also a member of the Law and Justice party. The party had previously chosen Beata Szydło as the prime minister, should they win the elections. The centrist party 'Civic Platform', which had held power in coalition with a smaller party in recent years, has garnered only 23% of the votes according to post-election polls. The Law and Justice party has received up to 38% of the votes, while the party of Pawel Kukiz has received 9%. Pawel Kukiz, a musician and rock singer, has gained increasing popularity in recent months and is now among the groups and parties that, like 'Law and Justice', have a nationalistic approach. The leadership of Law and Justice has been in the hands of Jarosław Kaczyński, a former prime minister and brother of the former president of Poland. Lech Kaczyński, his brother, died in a plane crash in Russia. Jarosław Kaczyński lives alone, is strongly opposed to Russia, and is among the European politicians who have a critical approach to the European Union. Poland has undergone many changes in recent years, both economically and diplomatically, and is now considered one of the most important political powers in Central Europe. Donald Tusk, the former prime minister and leader of 'Civic Platform', is currently the president of the European Union. The victory of 'Law and Justice' comes at the height of the crisis caused by refugees, while this party and other right-wing factions in Poland are strongly opposed to the 'open doors' policy of countries like Germany regarding refugees and their quotas.