Warsaw’s hoping-to-soon-to-be-installed rainbow coalition is wasting no time twisting the knife on the Law and Justice (PiS) administration, with strong indications of an extensive purge of Polish media and cultural institutions about to commence in a bid to overturn almost a decade of conservative rule.
The Polish Parliament (Sejm) assembled for the first time after October’s crunch election last week, with growing expectations that former European Council President Donald Tusk will be installed as prime minister by the end of the year, leading a coalition of his own Civic Platform with Left and agrarian groups.
A combination of rural discontent and poor vote management resulted in PiS failing to gain a majority in the Sejm last month, despite remaining the largest party, in a result welcomed by Eurocrats who had long been at war with Warsaw’s conservative government.
PiS is now accused of engaging in stalling techniques to delay the formal handover of power, with the party expected to use its control over the presidency to veto future Tusk legislation. It was given the first chance to form the next government by President Andrzej Duda.
While the opposition victory has yet to be formalised, there is a push for the “de-PiSisation” of domestic institutions, most notably the state broadcaster TVP, which was accused by the Left of having a pro-PiS slant during the recent campaign cycle.
Throughout their time in power, PiS has constantly fended off vociferous attacks from the European Commission and progressive NGOs over accusations of violating rule of law regulations.
One of Tusk’s first priorities will be removing alleged PiS influence from the Polish legal system under the guise of “judicial independence.” Custom legislation is being prepared to remove the nation’s top judge, Julia Przyłębska, known for her alleged conservative sympathies.
Another aspect of the progressive assault on conservative hegemony in Polish society will be replacing senior officials in museums and historical publishing houses.
The attack on PiS extends to Brussels, with multiple conservative MEPs facing potential hate speech charges after an NGO-led campaign to remove their individual parliamentary immunity passed the final hurdle in the European Parliament.
