Duda’s second term will entrench PiS hold on Poland

Significance

The stakes in Poland’s presidential election were very high and concerned mostly who should wield the presidency’s veto powers. If the opposition had prevailed, it would have presented a potentially huge legislative barrier to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) and could have triggered a snap parliamentary election.

Impacts

• Continuing the PiS judicial overhaul will spark further clashes between Warsaw and Brussels and between PiS and the opposition.
• PiS may be expected to overhaul non-state institutions, such as the private media, universities and NGOs.
• PiS dominance, with the Sejm and presidency on its side, will deepen Poland’s gradual Orbanisation.