The partner regions Wielkopolska and Hessen
cordially invite you to a lunchtime event
as part of the “Europe after the elections” series entitled
Poland has voted
with
Anna Słojewska
EU Correspondent for the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita
on Tuesday, 15 October 2019, 12.30 – 2.30 pm
(Light lunch from 12.30 pm, event starts at 1 pm)
at the
Multiple Regions House - Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussell
Programme:
| Welcome |
Izabela Gorczyca Director, Wielkopolska Region Brussels Office
|
| Presentation |
Anna Słojewska EU-Correspondent for the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita |
|
Discussion |
Anna Słojewska will take questions from the audience
|
About the event:
Parliamentary elections in Poland
Polish politics is in the midst of a series of elections: In October 2018, regional and local elections were held, while elections to the European Parliament took place in May 2019. The governing right-wing conservative “Law and Justice (PiS)” won 27 seats out of 52 in the European elections. Parliamentary elections will be held in Poland on 13 October 2019. Then, in spring 2020, voters will go to the polls once again to elect a President. There is a clear division of political sympathies between the western and eastern parts of the country, same as there is between more liberal and pro-European major cities such as Warsaw or Poznań, and conservative smaller towns and rural areas on the other hand. Nevertheless, according to current opinion polls, PiS leads with around 41% or more. Its success can be explained by improvements to social security, such as direct social transfers, and by its appeal to a strong Polish identity. The opposition has formed four alliances for the election. The greatest support among them receives the “Civic Coalition (KO)” led by the center-right “Civic Platform (PO)”, along with the liberal “.Nowoczesna (.N)”, the social-democratic “Polish Initiative (IP)” and the “Greens (Zieloni)”; the three others are the “Polish Coalition (KP)” led by the Christian-democratic “Polish Peasants’ Party (PSL)” including the conservative movement “KUKIZ 15”; a block of left-wing parties named “The Left (Lewica)”, and the far-right “Confederation (Konfederacja)”.
Will PiS win an absolute majority or will the opposition emerge stronger from the election? Will the winner be forced to join a post-election coalition to form a stable government?
The Parliament comprises two chambers, the lower house known as the “Sejm” with 460 deputies, and the Senate made up of 100 senators. The electoral threshold is 5%, and 8% for party alliances. The legislative term is four years. All citizens aged 18 and above are eligible to vote.
Simultaneous interpretation into English/German.
Please register via your personal link. Please click on the red title of the event to register.
The “Europe after the elections” Series
National elections are not only relevant in a national context, but are also of growing significance with respect to European politics. Therefore, they are keenly followed by the increasingly pan-European media. Our series on “Europe after the elections” reflects this Europeanised public. In regular discussions with experts, we aim to shine the spotlight on these national elections in a European context.
* Please be advised that photos will be taken at this event. By participating, you allow the Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU and the event’s cooperation partners to photograph and use your likeness in the press, on websites, in social media (e.g. on facebook and twitter) and other publications.
