Ruling Polish party looks set for autumn election win

Subject

The European elections in Poland.

Significance

In the past few months, each of Poland’s political forces has striven to create a momentum of successive election success for the 2019-20 election cycle. In the aftermath of the European Parliament (EP) elections, it seems only the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has succeeded in doing so.

Impacts

• If PiS wins the Sejm elections with a sufficiently large majority, it will begin preparing to change the constitution.
• Emboldened by the election result, PiS will now seek to take over private media outlets under the slogan of ‘repolonisation’.
• Despite increased spending commitments, the government expects the 2019 budget deficit to remain relatively low at 1.7% of GDP.