About: PiS
Poland’s parliament speaker resigns over private flights scandal
Poland's parliament speaker said on Thursday (8 August) he would resign after it was revealed that he used government aircraft for private trips, suggesting the ruling nationalists aimed to defuse a scandal that could affect their re-election campaign.
Poland to hold parliamentary election on 13 October
The Polish president's office confirmed on Tuesday (6 August) that the country will hold its parliamentary election on 13 October, which most pollsters expect the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to win thanks to generous social spending and robust economic growth.
ECR at odds with other groups over last remaining Parliament committee chair
Europe's conservative group (ECR) insisted on presenting former Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło as its candidate for the chair of the European Parliament's social affairs committee on Monday (15 July). But she was voted down again by her peers.
Investigated for VAT fraud, Tusk accuses PiS of abuse of power
EU Council President Donald Tusk on Monday (17 June) accused the governing conservatives from his home country of Poland of exploiting state institutions for political purposes and propaganda.
Tusk on 1989 anniversaries: Two visions are present also today
European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday (4 June) hailed the Polish election 30 years ago that heralded the peaceful demise of the entire Soviet bloc, holding it up as a reminder that China's bloody Tiananmen crackdown that same day was not the only possible outcome of a fight for freedom.
Strengthening EU rule of law protection: start with freedom of expression
This Tuesday, during the General Affairs Council, ministers of foreign affairs will get a presentation by the Commission about a new Communication on the rule of law. Rather than just listen, ministers should show they are committed to backing up talk with immediate action, write Gráinne de Búrca and John Morijn.
Austria scandal overshadows Salvini’s European nationalist rally
Italian populist leader Matteo Salvini on Saturday (18 May) gathered Europe's disparate nationalists for a unifying rally overshadowed by a major corruption scandal shaking Austria's far-right coalition.
Juncker says ‘unacceptable’ to link Tusk to Hitler and Stalin in Poland
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (7 May) it was “totally unacceptable” to link fellow top EU official, Donald Tusk, with tyrants Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler, as has been done by Polish state TV.
Tusk addresses Poles on Constitution Day
Council President Donald Tusk, a former Polish Prime Minister who is at odds with the populist government of the Law and Order party (PiS), addressed a series of messages to his compatriots on 3 May, Constitution Day.
Juncker looks back on 15 years of ‘big bang’ EU enlargement
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker offered interesting comments on present-day leaders of member states from Central Europe, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the 1 May 2004 accession of 10 countries, known as “the big bang”.
Ahead of EU polls, Poland’s Kaczynski urges crossparty anti-euro stance
The leader of Poland’s ruling conservatives on Wednesday (17 April) urged opposition leaders to back its view that the country should not join the euro until its economy is on a par with that of western neighbours. When Poland joined...
France and Germany pile pressure on Poland and Hungary over rule of law
As EU affairs ministers in Luxembourg on Wednesday (9 April) again discussed the rule of law in Poland and Hungary, a joint Franco-German statement proposed a new hearing after the European elections in June.
Polish opposition warns of ‘Polexit’ ahead of European vote
A coalition of Polish opposition parties on Saturday (6 April) launched its campaign for May's European elections by warning that the governing eurosceptic PiS party could drive the country out of the European Union.
Orban says Fidesz may leave EPP, look at Poland for alliance
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday (8 March) his ruling nationalist Fidesz party may drop out of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) amid a row over his government's anti-Brussels media campaign.
Openly gay Polish politician launches pro-EU ‘Spring’ party
Poland's first openly gay politician on Sunday (3 February) launched "Spring", a progressive political party aimed at challenging the EU country's governing right-wing party accused by critics and the EU of passing reforms that threaten the rule of law.
Fallout from the Kaczynski Twin Towers scandal
The public image of Poland’s political mastermind Jarosław Kaczyński and his ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party was shattered by revelations published by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily on Tuesday (29 January). Piotr Kaczyński (unrelated to the PiS leader) looks into the fallout.
EU elections: Polish opposition prepares for battle
Opinion polls since Poland's local and regional elections in October and November 2018 have consistently put the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) in the lead with between 30% and 40%, depending on methodology. The largest opposition party, the Civic Platform (PO), led by Grzegorz Schetyna, is at 22%.
Gdańsk mayor’s murder sends shockwaves through EU
Paweł Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdańsk, died on Monday (14 January) of his wounds, a day after being stabbed by a man who rushed the stage during a charity event. EU officials said they were devastated and expressed utter shock.
Orban puts hopes in new anti-migration European Parliament
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday (10 January) said he hoped the next European Parliament will be dominated by anti-immigration forces. He also criticised France and Germany in blunt terms, saying he "must fight" French President Emmanuel Macron.
Salvini calls for ‘Italian-Polish axis’ to replace Paris-Berlin
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday (9 January) said populists from Italy and Poland should spark a "European spring" to replace the centre-right influence of Germany and France, ahead of key EU elections.
Polish PM wins confidence vote ahead of 2019 election
Theresa May will not be the only Prime Minister coming to the two-day summit starting on Thursday (13 December) after having won a confidence vote the previous day.
Poland increasingly deporting activists from COP24
Poland has already deported 14 people from Central Europe since the beginning of COP24, including two members of the Georgian delegation. Many NGOs are questioning the legality of these bans on entering Polish territory. EURACTIV France reports.
Tusk lashes out at Trump stance on Europe
European Union chief Donald Tusk on Saturday (10 November) accused US President Donald Trump of being averse to a "strong and united" Europe and also warned against the emergence of a "brownshirt" nationalist front in EU elections next year.