The Polish Parlamentary Election and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism: Consequences for Poland and Europe

21.10.2015,  12:30 – 14:00

Hotel Leopold
Rue du Luxembourg 35,
1050 Brussels

The Polish parliamentary election to be held on 25 October, will take place in the middle of an unprecedented refugee crisis in Europe and in the context of rising support for right-wing populist movements in almost all EU Member States. If and how the migration issue will affect the election remains to be seen, but it is likely that it will boost support for the national-conservative opposition, not only the Law and Justice Party, but also more right-wing antiestablishment movements like Kukiz’15, founded by very successful candidate for presidential elections Paweł Kukiz, a rock singer. It is with parties like Kukiz’15 that Law and Justice might have to build a coalition in order to be able to form a government.

A crucial aspect of the rise of national-conservative ideologies in Poland is the backlash against women’s rights and gender equality, reinforced by the ideology of the Catholic Church. What makes this issue even more interesting is that both main prime ministerial candidates are women - Beata Szydlo (Law and Justice) and current premier Ewa Kopacz (Civic Platform).

As Poland is one of the middle size member states and a serious player on EU level, the consequences of a return to power of the Right after the elections in combination with growing right-wing sentiments among the population would be a challenge for Europe and Poland alike. The outcome of the Polish election could strengthen the right-wing movement in Europe, feed into negative attitudes towards refugees among European public opinion elsewhere and reinforce tendencies against further European integration. 

Speakers

Dr Jacek Kucharczyk, President of the Executive Board,  Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw

Aleksandra Niżyńska, Policy Analyst and Programme Manager, Gender Equality Observatory at Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw

Ulrike Lunacek, Member of the European Parliament Greens-EFA, Austria, Vice-President of the EP tbc

Moderator:    Klaus Linsenmeier, Director, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union

No admittance without confirmed registration. E-Mail registration only: marianne.ebertowski@eu.boell.org

The meeting is held under Chatham House Rule.

Conference language English – no translation.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.