#POLAND: Author Faces Prison For Insulting The President

[world politics news]

A popular Polish writer and journalist could face up to three years in prison for calling President Andrzej Duda a "moron" in a Facebook post in November.

Jakub Zulczyk accused Duda of failing to understand the US electoral process in a tweet to Joe Biden.

Duda's tweet stopped short of recognising his victory, pending Electoral College confirmation, but hailed his "successful campaign".

Poland has made it a crime to insult state leaders and religion.

In a Facebook post, his British publisher, Legend Times, said they were shocked by the charges.

"History shows us the consequences of denying freedom of speech, it is essential for working society and its chilling oppression cannot be accepted. As his UK publisher, we stand fully with Jakub as I am sure do all writers and others here in the UK.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: President Duda Wins Re-Election By Slim Margin

[world politics news]

Poland's incumbent President Andrzej Duda has narrowly beaten challenger Rafal Trzaskowski in Sunday's presidential vote.

The National Electoral Commission said Mr Duda had won 51.2% of the votes.

It is Poland's slimmest presidential election victory since the end of communism in 1989.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Presidential Election Goes To Runoff As Duda Suddenly Faces Close Race

[world politics news]

Poland’s conservative President Andrzej Duda will face centrist challenger Rafał Trzaskowski in a runoff election next month after no candidate won an outright majority in a first round of voting on Sunday, according to final results announced by electoral officials.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Former EU Pres. Tusk Will Boycott Election; Incumbent Duda Is Likely Winner

[world politics news]

Former European Council president Donald Tusk is appealing for a boycott of the upcoming presidential election in his native Poland, saying the postal vote the government has proposed carries health risks amid the coronavirus pandemic and would not meet democratic standards for free, equal and transparent elections.

Tusk, who served as Poland’s prime minister from 2007 to 2014, said in a video on Twitter that he would not “not take part in the voting procedure" for the May 10 balloting. He said the vote promoted by the right-leaning ruling party “has nothing to do with an election.”

According to the latest election poll conducted by Statista in April 2020, the current President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has the highest chance of winning next year's presidential election. The poll estimates that he may count on 59% of votes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Due To Lockdown, Parliament Approves All-Mail Vote, May Move Election Date

[world politics news]

Polish lawmakers has voted to conduct the country's forthcoming presidential elections exclusively through postal voting due to the lockdown imposed for the coronavirus pandemic.

Parliament also empowered house speaker Elzbieta Witek to push back the date of the election, if necessary. Both decisions by parliament require approval from the Senate and from President Andrzej Duda, who is seeking reelection.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Pres. Duda Calls EU "Imaginary Community" And "Irrelevant"

[world politics news]

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called the European Union, of which Poland is a member, an “imaginary community” of little relevance to Poles. “When our affairs are resolved, we will deal with European affairs,” Duda said in a speech. “For now let them leave us alone and let us fix Poland, because this is the most important thing.” Duda and the ruling Law and Justice Party have been in conflict with the EU over an overhaul of the Polish judicial system which the EU sees as violating the rule of law. Duda's government says the reforms as making judges more accountable.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Pres. Duda Vetoes 2 Controversial Legal Reforms After Mass Protests

[world politics news]

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has unexpectedly vetoed two out of three contentious bills that are widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system and are part of a planned legal overhaul by the ruling party that has sparked days of nationwide protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Lower House Votes To Lower Retirement Ages

[world politics news]

Poland‘s lower house of parliament has voted to lower the age of retirement from 67 to 60 for women and 65 for men, placing Poland at odds with a broader trend to raise the bar in other European countries. The bill, a brainchild of President Andrzej Duda, is a boon to his former party, the Law and Justice Party, and its promise to improve social welfare. Joanna Augustynowska of the opposition Nowoczesna Party said a lower retirement age would place a heavy burden on caring for the elderly.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Pres. Komorowski Defeated By Euro-Skeptic Opponent

[world politics news]

Pres. Bronisław Komorowski has conceded defeat to Andrzej Duda of the conservative Euro-skeptic Law and Justice Party. The result sends a message to the government of PM Ewa Kopacz, an ally of Komorowski, who faces a tight re-election battle later this year, and a defeat for Civic Platform, a pro-EU party that's been in power six years.

Pictured: Polish President-elect Andrzej Duda.

#POLAND: Conservative Euro Skeptic Wins First Round Of Pres. Election

[world politics news]

The conservative opposition candidate won the first round in Poland’s presidential election Sunday, opening the way for a runoff in two weeks. Despite opinion polls giving Pres. Bronisław Komorowski a 10% lead, Andrzej Duda from the Law and Justice (PiS) won the most votes in the first round of the poll.

Pictured: Andrzej Duda