This discussion will bring together experts on Polish politics and society to discuss the upcoming general election in Poland. The election takes place on Sunday, 15 October 2023 and is widely viewed as a critical test of Polish democracy.
The Law and Justice party (PiS) has led successive Polish governments since its return to office in 2015. Opinion polls suggest it is still the leading political party in Poland but its return to government is far from assured. The Polish opposition, led by Donald Tusk, former Prime Minister and President of the European Council, is expected to challenge PiS but remains trailing in the polls.
The speakers will also address Poland’s position within the European Union and the implications for Polish-EU relations of a return to office of PiS.
Keynote Speaker:
Jacek Kucharczyk, Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw
Respondents:
Jeffrey Goldfarb, Michael E. Gellert Professor Emeritus of Sociology, New School for Social Research
Elzbieta Matynia, Professor of Sociology & Liberal Studies, and Director of TCDS, New School for Social Research
John O’ Brennan, Department of Sociology and Director, Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies
Chaired by:
Hana Cervinkova, Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University.
Presented by the Democracy Seminar & the Transregional Center for Democratic Studies (TCDS) at The New School for Social Research (NSSR), The Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies (Ireland), and the Institute of Public Affairs (Warsaw) .
The 2023 Polish General Election: a clean break or more of the same?