Europost Poland to hold snap parliamentary election
Country's President Andrzej Duda’s office has announced that the vote will take place as soon as 13 October
Polish president’s office confirmed on Tuesday that the country will hold its parliamentary election on 13 October, which most opinion polls expect the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to win thanks to generous social spending and robust economic growth.
“The president has just signed an appropriate ordinance regarding the election to be held on October 13,” Blazej Spychalski, a spokesman for Poland's President Andrzej Duda, said during a broadcasted announcement, confirming Duda’s initial proposal last week regarding the election date.
After publication of the president's decision scheduling elections in the Journal of Laws, no later than on the fifth day after the day of scheduling the elections - the election campaign will formally start.
Pollster IBRIS predicts PiS would attract 41.7% of votes compared to 25% from the party’s main opposition, Civic Coalition. It was also expected any liberal or leftist parties would attract around 10.2 percent of votes. Another win by populist Duda, however could make their already bitter relationship with the EU even worse.
Since coming to power in 2015 PiS has been in conflict with the European Union over its migration and environmental policy, battles which critics say could intensify if it wins again. Poland has also faced increasing criticism from the bloc over their judicial system and allegations of growing authoritarianism. It has even been slapped with an “Article 7” disciplinary investigation by fellow EU Member States. Most recent, European Commission first VP Frans Timmermans in April launched fresh action against Warsaw over its controversial judicial reform.
“A problem in one member state is a problem for the union as whole," Timmermans said at the time.
