Page 75 - Ekonomija i Biznis_juli-avgust 2016.indd

WORLD

1995 he is a president of the Supreme Con- conservative party “Law and Justice”, at DOSSIER
trol Office (something like a state auditor the head of which was Lech Kaczyński. At
in our country), and in 2000 he once again the first electoral confrontation in 2001
became a minister in the Government of they won approximately 10% of the votes,
Jerzy Buzek, this time a Minister of Justice. which is a partial success considering that
In this first decade of Poland’s political the votes of the right-wing are divided be-
pluralism, Lech Kaczyński acquires signifi- tween several parties, the most dominant
cant popularity, especially because of his of which is the Party “Civic Platform”. At
fight against corruption, the abuses of the the local elections in 2002, these two par-
state authority, the nepotism, something ties performed together and, although ac-
which was one of the main challenges of cording to the votes they won at the level
Poland. of the country, they were third political
option, Lech Kaczyński was elected mayor
THE RISE OF THE PARTY ‘LAW AND of Warsaw, which is a turning point in the
JUSTICE’ AND THE RIVALRY WITH THE political career of the brothers Kaczyński,
PARTY ‘CIVIC PLATFORM’ as well as of the Party “Law and Justice”.
In this period, now the Mayor of Warsaw,
The political career of Jaroslaw Lech Kaczyński, abandoned the function
Kaczyński constantly shadows the career of president of the party, and he was re-
his brother Lech. Although he is constantly placed by Jaroslaw. This period is essential
present in the political life, Jaroslaw’s po- also due to the complete disintegration of
litical activity is in the background, and in the Polish left wing which, after the domi-
the first period of the political pluralism of nation in the Parliament accomplished in
Poland he formally did not perform any of the elections in 2001 with more than 40%
the executive functions of the country. In of the votes, in the elections in 2005 it won
1991 Jaroslaw formed the Christian Demo- less than 10%. In these elections, the party
cratic Party, a center agreement, through of Jaroslaw Kaczyński provided the great-
which it provided two mandates in the Par- est support from the electorate of 27%,
liament, in 1991, and later on, in 1997. The and on the second place was also the Cen-
identical twins brothers, although they are tral-Right-wing party “Civic Platform” led
constantly in a political alliance through by the current President of the European
various forms of coalitions and common Council, Donald Tusk, who won 24%. This
performances, formally until 2001 they did is illustrated by the political earthquake in
not belong to any political entity. In 2001 the left wing, which is practically eliminat-
together they established the right-wing ed by Poland’s “mainstream” political life,
something that remains as a recidivism
Donald Tusk – current President of the European Council from 2014; Prime Minister of in the political life of the country and to
Poland in the period 2007 – 2014; President of the Party “Civil Platform” in the period present day. And while after the elections
2003 – 2014. the Polish public was prepared for a large
right-wing coalition for the formation of
photo: (http://www.eu2004.nl/) a government which would be headed by
Jaroslaw Kaczyński, the political discourse
in Poland got a new direction. “The Civic
Platform”, led by Donald Tusk, although
it is a conservative party, represents more
liberal attitudes, protection of human and
minority rights, and it is an advocate and
a promoter of the European values, and
good relations with the key external part-
ners, Russia and Germany. Unlike Tusk,
the brothers Kaczyński and the Party “Law
and Justice” are representatives of the
stronger right-wing which arises from the

July-August 2016 75