Left or Right?

Fighting & In-fighting

Picture the scene: a country on the verge of complete decay. People with no money, no food; social unrest in the streets, freedom of speech does not exist and Big Brother has such power that people cannot trust their own neighbours. This is a state in collapse, ready to implode and disappear.

Birth of Peace
Then, just as this nation is about to evaporate into nothingness a group of people appear who are ready to fight for survival, fight for freedom and fight for the right to speak out. The non-violent Solidarność is born and with it one of the most famous figures of the 20th century, Lech Wałęsa. Solidarity manages to negotiate  a level of cooperation with the communist authorities and set in motion a remarkable turn of events which, domino-like, bring about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Eastern Europe.

Beginning of the End
After the incredible success of the Round Table Talks which sees Solidarność sit down with their adversaries the communists, Solidarity remarkably gain a foothold in government and soon the right-wing, with Solidarity as its chief flag-bearer, becomes a real force to be reckoned with. Poland’s future looks bright and its political system seems to be reaching an equilibrium of sorts. However, with power comes intoxication and Poland’s right-wing begins to bicker, quarrel and eventually fragment. Factions appear and the unity of Solidarity crashes to an unceremonious end.

When Right is Left
A united right-wing is no more. In fact, the idea that the right-wing was ever unified was simply illusory and at most pie-in-the-sky. Solidarity was a trade union. Its doctrine of workers’ rights and equality was socialist in nature, not right-wing. The leaders of Law and Justice (PiS) and Civic Platform (PO) may share a common heritage (in Solidarity) but neither would dream of being called socialist. In reality, the closest Poland has to a Solidarity-like party is the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the offspring of the communist Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR), sworn enemies of Solidarność.

PiS vs. PO
Polish politics is a strange beast. PiS claims to be right-wing, although at times it appears to be socialist (worker rights, pensioner rights and social hand-outs), whereas at other times it verges on fascist extremism. PO, also claiming to be right-wing, is often seen to be ultra-liberal, at times dangerously (for them) conservative. Anyone who did not know that they shared a common heritage would be most surprised. It might prove useful to finally do away with this leftist-rightest distinction as it does justice neither to Poland’s parties nor does it help in categorising them.

The Church
The terms left and right do not seem to mean anything anymore. They have become worn-out and arbitrary. In fact, the closest we can get in describing them is through the dichotomy: pro-church/anti-church, or to be more specific, pro-Catholic/anti-Catholic. In other words, in Poland, a right-wing party is (generally) a pro-Catholic party whereas a left-wing party is an anti-Catholic party. If this is the case, does this make Poland a secular or a religious state?

Tusk Battles Crisis

Fighting for Poland

I’m quite perplexed as to the attitude of a large portion of economists and commentators concerning Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision to intervene and strengthen the standing of the Polish złoty. These ‘experts’ have been vocal in their criticism of Tusk’s decision to help Poland’s currency.

Surprise, Surprise
The criticism seems to stem from the fact that Donald Tusk had said the government would intervene if the Polish złoty dropped in value (when 1 euro would equal 5 złoty). The government actually intervened much sooner. The Finance Ministry decided to sell a large quantity of EU funds and by doing so the złoty regained some of its value.

Suspicious Subjects
The more I follow the market and the repercussions of the so-called crisis, I see a pattern emerging with regards to many of the EU’s eastern member states. There are market players whose intention it is to weaken the economies and currencies of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic and by doing so make a killing at the same time.

Subtle Superhero
The reason behind Tusk’s decision to intervene earlier was obvious – make the move now before these ‘players’ can cut their losses in preparation for the expected intervention. Tusk beat them at their own game and therefore, in my humble opinion, deserves the thanks of most Polish people. He has improved the standing of the Polish currency and economy.

Subsidising Success
A small group of outside investors see profit in Poland’s loss. It is probably about time that the EU’s politicians and economists begin moving towards stabilising the Polish złoty, the Hungarian Forint and the Czech Koruna. A fall in value of these currencies and weakening of these respective economies can only spell trouble for the European Union. Time to get to work.

Polish Personality 2008

2009 is upon us and it’s perhaps time to take stock of 2008 and consider who were the biggest players on Poland’s political scene, who people took most notice of and who was the most influential Polish politician. Several names spring to mind but we can safely whittle the number down to five politicians:

Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland
Janusz Palikot, Civic Platform politician
Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland
Lech Wałęsa, former President of Poland and leader of Solidarity

Justice (and Law) for All

Battling Everyone
Poland’s President has been on the front pages for the majority of 2008. However, for most of that time, the former head of Law and Justice (PiS) has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Lech Kaczyński hit the headlines for his ongoing war with two other Polish political heavyweights – Lech Wałęsa (his former employer) and Donald Tusk (a one-time friend).

Waging War

Battle-ready
Palikot has become Civic Platform’s (PO) aggressive little mascot, a renegade that the governing party is able to let loose every now and again to take a swipe at the President and the opposition, Law and Justice. Palikot hit the headlines in 2008 by claiming the President had alcohol problems and should have regular health checks to see if he is ‘fit’ enough to govern.

Rising Statesman

Battling High
Radosław Sikorski’s comebackability, first from senator to Defence Minister (when PiS was in power), sacking (by PiS) and then appointment as Foreign Minister  (by PO) has solidified his position as an expert in foreign policy and high government advisor. Rumours that he could become NATO’s new leader, though far-fetched, could be a sign of great things to come.

Shaky Platform

Battle-worn
The PM has by no means had an easy ride this year. Constant bickering and petty squabbling with the President have not gone down well with the Polish public denting his popularity. Tusk seems to be a man always ready for the race but never  managing to get to the finish line. 2008 has been a year of near successes and Poland’s much-needed reforms still seem a long way off.

Prized Leader

Battle-hardened
Wałęsa spent much of 2008 trying to clear his name after a book was published claiming he had collaborated with the communists. Lech Kaczyński publicly slurred Wałęsa and spurned him during Independence Day celebrations by not inviting him to the official do. However, Wałęsa’s year finished on a high note with his own Nobel Peace Prize Anniversary celebrations attended by the world’s greatest politicians, famous personalities and finest dignitaries.

Who the Duck Do You Think You Are?

Egg on Your Face

Lech Kaczyński is doing everything he can to get noticed much to the chagrin of most of Poland’s political elite, journalists and tired citizens. He began the week by making a bold, mighty declaration stating that Russia should withdraw its armed forces from Georgia. The plan, instigated by Kaczyński, was to collect the signatures of a large number of well-known and influential world leaders. The declaration was signed by Kaczyński and… the President of Lithuania. To make matters worse, Lech Kaczyński failed to inform Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EU Boob
The week rolled on and Kaczyński went from blunder to bungle. When PM Donald Tusk realised that Kaczyński will be yet again gate-crashing yet another EU summit Tusk decided that he won’t force himself to go through the embarrassment of being patted on the back (again) and patronised by a meddling Kaczyński.  Tusk will not be travelling to the summit. The PM’s decision is both ridiculous and emotional and one cannot help feeling that somehow, somewhere Poland’s interests have been cast aside in this catty bickering between the two politicians.

Congratulatory Goof
But by far the biggest boo-boo made by Kaczyński this week was his congratulation letter sent to Barack Obama in which Kaczyński twice writes: “the President of the United States of Northern America”. Apparently, the original draft of the letter containing the correct title, written by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was later ‘corrected’ by Kaczyński’s own office. Not only has Kaczyński managed to make a fool of himself, make a fool of his countrymen, insult the President-Elect of the most powerful nation in the world but also, quite incredibly, invent a brand new country. Impressive.

President Go Home

Heading to Brussels

Yesterday’s news (see here) that President Kaczyński will also be making his way to the upcoming EU summit comes as a surprise for all of us, both here in Poland and in the rest of Europe. Lech Kaczyński seems to be a man unaware of his position and capabilities, a little Napoleon set on crusading through Europe and the world, even though there have been no crusades for generations. The man seems to be set on creating the world in his own image, an image shared only by himself (and perhaps his more pesky twin brother).

No Heads of State
Little Miss Kaczyński has got it into his head that he is too important not to attend the EU summit. The problem is that this is an inter-governmental summit and not a meeting of heads of state. Will Queen Elizabeth be there? Juan Carlos of Spain? President Sarkozy of France? No. Each country is set to be represented by its Prime Minister and in Poland’s case also the Finance Minister. Besides, the President does not possess the know-how to discuss the financial machinations of the current economic downturn and future escape packages for Europe.

Opposition to Kaczyński
In a remarkable show of solidarity, Poland’s opposition politicians (bar PiS, headed by Lech’s twin brother) have all come out on the side of Prime Minister Tusk who has reiterated that Lech Kaczyński should under no circumstances travel to the summit. Even malcontent, former PM Leszek Miller has put the full weight of his support behind Tusk claiming that the current PM is “utterly in the right and has done no wrong” (Tok FM).

Lithuania or Bust
Kaczyński is so eager to stamp on Tusk’s fire and cause mayhem that the idea was even mooted that he would travel with the Lithuanian delegation. Does that mean Kaczyński’s aides have been ‘phoning round’ to see who the President of Poland might piggy-back with. Very swish, very elegant. After meeting Tusk, it now seems that Kaczyński will be travelling in the official plane to Brussels albeit the day after Tusk and the Finance Minister go. However, the question needs to be asked: why on earth did Tusk back down?

Mission Impossible
Sadly, Lech Kaczyński has become a political pest. He has no regard for accepted etiquette (i.e. the above summit) and is dead set on proving to the world he is a ‘great leader’. If this was the case, he would perhaps  be a little more cautious with where he travels and more restrained with what he says. He seems to forget that he is the President of the Republic of Poland. He represents the people and not the party of his twin brother. His mission is to present Poland in a good light rather than spend all his energies on promoting himself.

Whose afraid of Russia?

With yet another fuel crisis facing Europe it seems that the idea (and hope) of any form of continental solidarity is well and truly gone. The previous Polish government made a point of poking Putin in the eye. Tusk et al (together with the rest of Europe) are simply at a loss in the face of Russian arrogance forcefulness.

President meets President
Gazprom, the ominous and seemingly omipotent fuel behemoth, has called for Ukraine to pay up its alleged 1.5 billion dollar debt or face being cut off. The situation is not pretty. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko jetted off to Moscow for emergency talks with Vladimir Putin in order to push through a deal which of course begs the question: why must the Ukrainian President have to ask Putin to intervene? Who the hell is Putin? Gazprom is of course a private corporation so why should Putin have anything to do with it?

Russian Corruption
We all know the answer to the question. Russia’s political scavengers elite are the root of the problem. The stereotypical (romantic and naive) view of Russia is a land of snow, vodka, hard deals and straight talking. Nothing could be further from the truth. Corruption, immorality and ruthlessness are more typical. The UK government have been at loggerheads with Russia in recent months for a variety of reasons. But still the EU sits on its hands and does nothing.

European Union?
The Kaczyński government highlighted the problem when it came to light that the German government and the Putin/Gazprom alliance had decided to build a pipeline on the bottom of the Baltic Sea excluding and bypassing Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus. The respective leaders of the union of European states did nothing. Solidarity? What solidarity?!

Helping Hand
Seeing that Putin is happy to mix corrution, business and politics, it is about time the EU put their collective foot down and act firmly. Will they come to an agreement concerning a common energy policy that does in fact offer security to all 27 states of the EU and those in the closest vicinity (i.e. Ukraine) or will they continue to sit about and do nothing? Time to act methinks…

What kind of President are you, anyway?

Oh dear. To be honest the Lech Kaczyński-Donald Tusk tiff is becoming embarrassing. In truth both Kaczyński and Tusk are to blame for the farce that is Polish domestic and international politics.

Sikorski Come Home
Another hot spot blew up when Kaczyński ordered Radosław Sikorski, Foreign Affairs Minister to return to Poland before he went off to the Ukraine. The President demanded he be informed, in person, of what Sikorski wished to discuss while in Kiev. This childlike outburst was both annoying and unnecessary. Sikorski was several minutes before an important speech in Brussels concerning EU-Serbia relations. Kaczyński refused to speak to him on the phone. Rattles were thrown out of the pram. He had to cancel the speech. When Sikorski arrived hastily in Warsaw to meet the President, the conversation turned to US politics rather than Urainian relations. It became obvious that Kaczyński had ordered Sikorski to return to Poland to spite Sikorski and Civic Platform (PO), the ruling party.

President or Bust
What is incredible about the whole Kaczyński-Tusk dispute is the fact that the two of them were neighbours and (allegedly) good friends for a long time. Tusk, as most people know, has designs on the Presidency and will most certainly try and get himself elected President at the next elections. Kaczyński realises this and will do anything to taint the image of his one-time friend and neighbour. What is sad is the fact that the Polish concept of solidarity has gone out the window. Both men were important members of the Solidarity movement. Power corrupts, power is intoxicating and has gone to the head of both men.

Little Man, Big Job
The President of a country should be a figure-head, a role model of sorts. However, this little man has about as much charisma as a wet teddy bear. Lech Kaczyński is not and never will be a statesman or a leader of men. He is feeble, boring and very irritating. His body language says it all. He is a suspicious little man, uncomfortable with one of the most responsible positions in one of the largest countries of Europe. His rhetoric is negative and full of bile. And more frighteningly, he is completely at the beck and call of his twin brother. Jarosław says jump, Lech jumps; Jarosław says beg, Lech begs; Jarosław says follow, Lech follows.

PiS President
Lech Kaczyński is joint head of Law and Justice (PiS) in all but name. He represents the views of his brother’s party and his little minions. He does not represent the country. He is not a real president. Opinion polls paint a dark picture. Lech Kaczyński is neither a popular figure nor a politican that Polish people trust. He is regarded by most media commentators as a puppet of Jarosław, his twin brother. Poland has a president but it does not have a President (with a capital ‘P’). The average Polish person feels no pride in the fact that this man represents their country. Sad but true.

Lost Little Boy

It looks like the recent election defeat of Law and Justice (PiS) has tipped Jarosław Kaczyński over the edge. He seems to be flapping about like a lost little boy, thrashing out at times at members of his own party who dare question him or look for reason sfor why the party lost the elections. Humiliated ex-PM Kaczyński recently declared that Civic Platform’s (PO) total control of parliament is a serious threat to democracy in Poland. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

We all remember former Justice Minister Ziobro calling a press conference every two days to announce yet another fallen politician entwined in the evil black web of corruption. Poland’s judicial system was seriously compromised and its public prosecutors were even given orders to do the bidding of Ziobro. Nice!

Poland’s dirty washing was constantly on show to the world with senior ministers announcing that all of Poland’s previous Foreign Minister were all communist agents. Very tactful! While Tusk and company are trying to patch up relations between Russia and the European Union, Jarosław Kaczyński is using his brother, the President, to do his dirty work and criticise literally every move undertaken by Tusk or his team.

Ignorance, perhaps, may be bliss for Tusk if he does the right thing and ignores the not-so-wise words of the twins…

In Defence of Wałęsa

It is an interesting paradox that leaders who are revered around the world are often seen in a completely different light by the natives of that leader’s particular country. To this day, many Brits shudder or foam at the mouth when the name “Thatcher” is mentioned; Russians loathe Gorbachov and a large number of Polish people cannot stand the sight of Lech Wałęsa. However, all three are regarded as heroic figures throughout the world.

Truth Hurts
One of the reasons for this peculiar paradox is that natives are able to see their heroes on a daily basis, warts and all. Information that does not necessarily reach the world press is fed to the domestic masses on a regular basis so that every raised voice, grimace or faux pas is repeated four times a day on prime time TV. It’s hard to be a hero.

Presidential Charm
Say what you like about Wałęsa but when he was at his best he had the uncanny ability to see a situation for what it was and comment on it often to the dismay of his enemies and chagrin of his supporters. He is often mocked in Poland for his lack of eloquence, his slovenliness and poor use of Polish which is astonishing for a figure responsible for some of the wittiest one-liners and catchiest slogans in modern Polish history, such as:

“Czuj się odwołany” (feel dismissed ~ you are dismissed)
“Jestem za, a nawet przeciw” (I’m for, even against)
“Rozmawialiśmy jak Polak z Polakiem” (we talked as one Pole to another)
“To są ostatnie godziny naszych pięciu minut” (these are the final hours of our five minutes of fame)
“Są plusy dodatnie i plusy ujemne” (there can be positive positives and negative positives)

He is also credited with saying:

“Nie chcem, ale muszem” (= a negatively accented version of “nie chcę, ale muszę” = I don’t want to but I have to).

which has since become a negative Wałęsa ‘label’, although, unbeknown to most people, he did not actually say this, as anyone who read the Gazeta Wyborcza interview in question would know.

Divided Poland
When analysing modern Polish political history, we can see that Wałęsa was without a doubt a landmark figure. In fact, Polish politics can perhaps even be divided along Wałęsa fault-lines, that is figures who were on his side and those who were not. The first such division was between General Wojciech Jaruzelski (the last communist leader of Poland) and Wałęsa, the leader of the forces of good (and Solidarity). Wałęsa was victorious.

War Above
The second division came with the “war above” effectively providing a catalyst for the splintering of Solidarity into two factions:
(1) Porozumienie Centrum (Centre Agreement) set up by Jarosław Kaczyński to support Wałęsa in the 1990 presidential elections (later turning into Law and Justice) and
(2) Ruch Obywatelski Akcja Demokratyczna (Citizens’ Movement for Democratic Action) (later evolving into the Democratic Party – a part of Left and Democrats – and Civic Platform) which supported Tadeusz Mazowiecki in the same elections. Wałęsa was again victorious.

Burning Effigies
The division between the ‘Hard’ Right (Law and Justice) and ‘Soft’ Right (Civic Platform) still remains, although now Wałęsa is a supporter of the latter. The break from the Hard Right (in the form of the Centre Agreement) was a messy one. Tired of what he believed to be the unfortunate politics of a useless Centre Agreement administration headed by Jan Olszewski, President Wałęsa removed the whole government replacing Olszewski with a young Waldemar Pawlak (ironically now coalition partner to Civic Platform). In protest, the Kaczyńskis burnt effigies of Wałęsa in front of the presidential palace signalling Wałęsa to later say something on the lines of God help Poland should it ever be governed by the Kaczyńskis.

Political Future
Older he may be but Wałęsa has not lost any of his arrogance or lust for life. Now, looking back, his words relating to the Kaczyńskis seem almost prophetic. During the recent election campaign the new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk talked about his respect for the “man with the moustache”. Several days ago, Tusk called upon Wałęsa to help re-build Poland’s place in Europe and the world. Tusk has asked him to be a special envoy for the government.