PiS Archives - Public Seminar

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A New Committee with Lech Walesa, 2018

Reflections on the limitations of the continuing struggle for democracy in Poland

July 12, 2018 • by Leszek Budrewicz

In opposition to the threat to democracy in Poland today, Lech Walesa is calling for a united front against the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), reviving a citizens committee he led thirty years ago in the democratic struggle against Communist dictatorship. Here the first of two pieces responding to ...

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Poland’s Growing Authoritarianism

On Facing the Implications of Recent Events

December 22, 2017 • by Helena Chmielewska-Szlajfer

In order to restore real justice, unlike the EU-enforced one, there are no holds barred; and just because something is written in law doesn’t mean it’s just. It doesn’t even matter that some of these laws were created during the previous 2005-2007 PiS-led government or that they were signed by ...

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Mourning Poland’s Burning Man

Polish man sets himself on fire after distributing letter condemning PiS Party

October 26, 2017 • by Sławomir Sierakowski

The text of the letter is eminently rational. It carefully enumerates and decries actions taken by Poland’s government that, according to Polish and international courts alike, amount to an attack on the rule of law and liberal democracy. The letter accuses the government, controlled by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, ...

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Thoughts on the Hungarian and Polish New Right in Power

September 21, 2016 • by David Ost

Eviscerating the Constitutional Court and purging the judiciary, complete politicization of the civil service, turning public media into a government mouthpiece, restricting opposition prerogatives in parliament, unilateral wholesale change of the Constitution or plain violation of it, official tolerance and even promotion of racism and bigotry, administrative assertion of traditional ...