Democracy in Poland

February 2025

Past Event

Democracy in Poland

Past Event

Hudson Institute

February 18, 2025

Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk arrives for the annual military parade celebrating Poland’s Armed Forces Day on August 15, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)

February 2025

Past Event

Speakers:

Peter Doran

Adjunct Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Moderator:

James Carafano

Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow, Heritage Foundation

Listen to Event Audio

The debate over what constitutes democratic and acceptable governance in the twenty-first century European Union continues regarding several member states, including Poland. The governing center-left Citizens Coalition, led by the Civic Platform party and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, charges the right-of-center Law and Justice party with violations against democracy, the rule of law, and media freedom. Law and Justice, led by former PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski, denies these charges and accuses the current government of excesses on the same issues.

There is more than one valid view on this nexus of issues, both regarding the period Law and Justice governed Poland (2015–23) and since Civic Coalition took office in December 2023. They are more complex and nuanced than the prevailing narratives about “democrats” and “illiberal, far-right” politicians.

Join Senior Fellow Matt Boyse and Peter Doran of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies for a discussion of their recent in-depth examination of objectivity, consistency, and politics in the debate about democracy, rule of law, media freedom, and more. Heritage Foundation’s Jim Carafano will moderate the discussion.

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