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The democratic backsliding, which began in Poland after the ascent to power of the Law and Justice/Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS) party in 2015, continued in 2021. The Polish government maintained its confrontational attitude toward European institutions, from the European Commission to the European Parliament and the European Union's Court of Justice. The latter imposed on Poland a daily fine of €1 million for the government's refusal to reverse reforms of the judiciary that put into question the independence of judges. On the domestic front, the ruling camp underwent a series of internal frictions that jeopardized its majority in the lower house (Sejm), but it preserved a slim majority by co‐opting dissenters from other parliamentary caucuses and independents. The government's actions on the Polish–Belarussian border to prevent Middle Eastern refugees entering the country, and hence the EU, were a serious departure from international law principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines politics and government in Poland in 2010. It discusses the political consequences of the crash of a Polish Air Force plane on April 10, 2010, in which 96 passengers died, including Polish president Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and several Polish military and civilian leaders. The article details how the Polish government continued following the constitutional line of succession. The author argues that Polish government institutions functioned according to legal requirements. The article discusses the Polish constitution's dual-executive arrangement and previous disputes between Kaczynski and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk. The article also examines alleged animosity between Polish political parties, presidential succession, and the presidential elections of 2010.

Presented is a political survey of the country of Poland for the year 2009. It is noted that significant changes were made to cabinet posts following charges of political corruption leveled at the government. A number of other events and developments are discussed including the fact that Poland was the only member state of the European Union that enjoyed positive economic growth during 2009, the brief term in office of Andrzej Czuma as minister of justice, and undue government influence on legislation regulating the gambling industry.

The article presents an overview of political developments in Poland for 2008. It includes an analysis of the political motives of leading public figures, and commentary on trends in public opinion regarding the events described. Notable issues in national politics are discussed. It is said that the most interesting political news involved debates over the Polish constitution's framework for executive power. Polish President Lech Kaczynski is the head of state, while Prime Minister Donald Tusk is the head of government.

This article presents a summary of analyses addressing the changing patterns of voting behavior in post-communist Poland as a context for examination of the issue of the relationship between regions defined by history (eighteenth-century partitions, border shifts after WWII) and contemporary forms of voting behavior. In the 1990s, the dominant cleavage in Polish politics was the one between the post-Solidarity and post-communist camps, and the best predictor of voting behavior was one's religiosity. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, this cleavage has been replaced by another, between the liberal, pro-European orientation and the more Euro-skeptic, populist attitudes. The empirical evidence seems to suggest that one end of the populist-liberal continuum is relatively well defined and represents the traditional system of values, which defines Polish national identity in terms of ethnic nationalism, strong attachment to Catholic dogmas, and denunciation of communism as a virtual negation of those values. The other end of this continuum is defined more by rejection of this nationalistic- Catholic "imagined community" than by any positive features. This article examines the relative role of identity-related factors (e.g., religiosity or region) and determinants based on one's socioeconomic (class) position in shaping voting patterns in the 2007 elections to the Polish Sejm and Senate. The empirical data come from a postelection survey, the Polish General Election Study 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of political developments in Poland as of December 2008. It includes information on the electoral fortunes of political parties such as Law & Justice, Civic Platform, and the Democratic Left Alliance. The government of Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński, and his twin brother President Lech Kaczyński is discussed. National political issues involving the health care service, especially protests by nurses over low wages, are described. An effort by Catholic political activists to ban abortions is also noted.

Abstract: The author argues that political opportunism, an attitude common among communist party members before 1989, turned into both the blessing and the curse for post-communist parties in Poland. Once hopeful of secure careers in the authoritarian structures of the old regime, after the regime breakdown communists found themselves in a situation where the only chance for such a career could be associated with the party reinventing itself as a player in the field of pluralist democracy. Opportunistic attitudes of communist apparatchiks and nomenklatura members were instrumental in transforming them, individually and collectively, into effective actors in market economy and competitive politics. Yet the same attitudes doomed the post-communists once the opportunities associated with access to political power opened up widely. The same people who in the 1990s were so apt in turning the rules of democratic game into their collective advantage, in the 2000s acted with a sense of impunity and lack of any consideration for political accountability that in democracies arrives at the end of any election cycle. Plagued by corruption scandals, they lost their popular base: the economically disadvantaged groups to nationalistic populists, the urbane libertarians to liberal democrats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses populism in Poland. The major political parties are the Law and Justice Party, Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland, League of Polish Families Party, Civic Platform, Polish Peasant Party, and Democratic Left Alliance/Left and Democrats. The different ideologies, the parliamentary-election campaigns, and decommunization are mentioned. The doctrines influencing Polish politics such as pro-market, anti-market, particularistic, and universalistic ideals are discussed in relation to the liberal-democratic, conservative or Christian-democratic, socialist or social-democratic, and populist movements. Statistics are given for six political parties in the parliamentary elections in 2001, 2005, and 2007.

The article presents an overview of political developments in Poland as of December 2007. It includes information on the agendas and electoral fortunes of political parties such as Law and Justice, Civic Platform, and Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej. The rise of identical twins Jarosław and Lech Kaczyński, the former of whom became Prime Minister and the latter President, is discussed. National political issues are also analyzed, involving legislation regarding military intelligence, the civil service, and the privatization of banking.

The article discusses democracy in countries in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. It describes the transitions of democracy in several countries including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. The article provides a comparison of the political landscapes between Western countries and CEE countries. It discusses the political parties in CEE countries which are mentioned to focus more on cultural issues than socioeconomic problems. The article also provides an overview of democratic procedures in CEE countries.

The article focuses on politics in Poland in 2005. It talks about the 2005 parliamentary and presidential elections that may indicate a growing stability of the party system. It states that while two center-right parties dominated the presidential vote, the parties failed to form a ruling coalition, resulting in a minority government by the Law and Justice (PiS) party under politician Lech Kaczyński. It mentions that the competition for victory in the parliamentary elections was limited to the liberal-democratic Civic Platform and the PiS, both of which are successors to the Solidarity movement.

The article looks at the government of Poland in 2004. Several national political issues are discussed, including Poland's accession to the European Union, the resignation of Prime Minister Leszek Miller, and his replacement by Marek Belka. The trial of film producer Lew Rywin, who was found guilty of fraud, is discussed. The actions of various political parties are reviewed, including the Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej, the Civic Platform, and the Freedom Union. Changes made to the electoral process of the European Parliament are also mentioned.

Presents information on politics in Poland as of December 2004. Referendum on the membership of Poland in the European Union; Changes in the cabinet in 2003; Failure of the government's domestic policies; Ejection of the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) from the ruling coalition and dismissal of two PSL ministers; Scandals involving the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) leaders.

The article focuses on the voting pattern of the European Union (EU) accession referendum in Poland. Poland's quest for the membership of EU had enjoyed wide support since the demise of the Soviet Union in 1989. Throughout the 1990s, Polish political elites and all the major political parties, from the post-communist Alliance of the Democratic Left to the centrist Freedom Union and the Electoral Action Solidarity on the right, shared a consensus in favor of quick accession to European and Atlantic structures. After the 2001 elections in Poland, the Euro-skeptical forces recorded significant gains.

Presents an overview of political issues in Poland in 2002. Acceptance of Poland as member of the European Union; Replacement of ministers Andrzej Celinski of Culture and Barbara Piwnik of Justice; Bribery scandal published by the "Gazeta Wyborcza" involving Wanda Rapaczynska, president of the company Agora, Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of "Gazeta," and film producer Lew Rywin.

The article focuses on the political events in Poland in 2000. It relates that the during the period the ruling coalition collapsed, but the Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek retained his office, the old president was re-elected for another term and the unresolved problems of the coalition of parties was brought to the public's attention. Moreover, at the end of the year the prime minister presided over a new cabinet member, and the changes in the cabinet, especially the breakdown of the ruling coalition, prompted calls for an early general election. A discussion on the presidential election that took place during the year is also presented. Several charts depicting the results of 2000 presidential elections and cabinet compositions are included.

The article reports developments surrounding national politics in Poland. The government has successfully joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is facing major issues including the implementation of the health care system reform, as well as the design of the new social security system which brings the idea that the size of one's pension should depend on the amount of his contributions. The government is also focusing on the national education system reform which will introduce a three-level system of universal pre-university education.

Looks into the deficiencies of state transformation in Poland, particularly on the subject of a procedural and a substantive interpretation of democracy. Evaluation of the Roundtable Accord of 1989; Case study of an imperfect consensus and political compromise; Analysis of the socio-political background of the institutional transformation in Poland.

The article discusses various issues related to the politics and government of Poland in 1998. The AWS/UW coalition government laid out the groundwork for major reforms designed to eliminate the Communist-era institutions and regulations in the pension system, health care, education, and state administration. Another political controversy was the possible past collaboration of public officials with the Communist secret services. Meanwhile, the law amended on June 5, 1998 re-introduces the three-level administrative division of the country and local self-government.

The article discusses several developments related to the politics and government of Poland in 1997. The two significant events in Polish politics were the constitutional referendum held on May 25, 1997 and the general elections held on September 21, 1997. The new Constitution of the Republic of Poland was taken up by the National Assembly on April 2, 1997. Likewise, the new Law on Political Parties was taken up by the Sejm bicameral parliament on June 27, 1997. It is noted that the most significant innovations were the raise of the minimum number of members essential for legal registration and regulations related to party finances.

The article discusses issues and topics related to politics and government in 1996 in Poland. The country has no elections conducted in this year but there was minimal changes in the composition of the Sejm or the Chamber of Deputies and the formation of a referendum on issues related to mass privatization which took place on February 18. In addition, the country is also facing an issue known as Oleksy affair which highlights the accusation made by Minister of Internal Affair Andrzej Milczanowski to Poland's Prime Minister Józef Oleksy. The article also presents tables depicting the party composition and cabinet members of Oleksy.

The article offers political information for Poland in 1995. An overview of the condition of its national politics is given, including the changes in the composition of the government's Upper and Lower House, the resignation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Olechowski and the conflict on personal policies between Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak and President Lech Walesa. It also explores several issues regarding the nation's presidential election in November, particularly on the personalities and political biographies of the two candidates, Walesa and Aleksander Kwasniewski. Several charts that depict the country's political data are provided.

The article reports political and economic conditions in Poland. The country's democracy was challenged by the tensions between the President and the Parliament and the Cabinet. Former leader of Solidarity Lech Walesa became a symbol of resistance mounted by the Polish people against a communist regime. The economy recorded another year of growth. Gross domestic product increased by five percent but inflation remained relatively high. It is said that when the amendments to the to the penal code was vetoed, another potentially dangerous conflict took place.

The article discusses various issues related to the politics and government of Poland in 1993. The outgoing Sejm embraced changes in electoral law aimed at limiting fragmentation by eliminating weaker parties from the Sejm. Meanwhile, the government continued its policies of economic reforms designed to privatize the state sector and its role in the expanding market. It is noted that President Lech Walesa supported a new organization known as Non-Party Bloc in Support of Reforms in the 1993 electoral campaign.

The article examines the political activities of Poland for 1992. No new elections or by-elections occurred in Poland during the year, wherein the mergers and secessions of political groupings have influenced political structure of the Sejm lower house parliament. The Olszewski I cabinet members include Jan Olszewski as President of the Council of Ministers while Krzysztof Skubiszewski is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Key information about the Constitutional Act of 1992 and national political issues is further presented.

The article offers a comprehensive report in the political structure and government in Poland for 1991. It discusses the circumstance of its election, cabinet formation, institutional changes and national political issues. It presents two tables which give information on the results of the election and the composition of the Senat. Another table indicates the Cabinet composition of former Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki and incumbent Prime Minister Jan Krysztof Bielecki, their political parties and the names of their members.

The article focuses on the complex political situation in Poland. According to the author, Zbigniew Brzezinski has told the Polish president, Lech Walesa that the legislators have made a fundamental error by adopting a system based on proportional representation (PR) in the lower house of Parliament. Brzezinski's warning was true after the voters elected from 30 different political parties during the October 27, 1991 parliamentary election which paved the way to a deep split in Solidarity movement in the country.

This article informs that the survey "Poles 80" based on the representative quota sample of 2500 adults was conducted by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in December 1980.