Posted on 09/26/2005 1:51:40 PM PDT by lizol
Poll means new EU role for Poland
By Mark Mardell BBC Europe Editor
While Germany is still mired in coalition talks heading in an uncertain direction, Poland at least has given the European Union a clear message.
The biggest winner, the Law and Justice party (PiS) is lead by two portly identical twins - Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski - nicknamed "the ducks".
But their appearance on the European stage is more likely to be a confident march than a waddle.
They are aghast that surveys show many Poles see themselves as citizens of "a small nation" when it is geographically large, and so in terms of EU votes, powerful.
Their leader has said it is time for other countries to stop "yelling" at Poland. French President Jacques Chirac may be wondering "Do they mean me?"
This is the main reason why Law and Justice and their almost inevitable coalition partners Civil Platform (PO), are opposed to the European Union constitution.
They prefer the Nice treaty which gives Poland more of a say. Few think the constitution has much of a chance of being revived in its current form, but the Polish election is another shovel full of earth on the coffin.
No to euro
For a start, they will fight against its revival and they have also suggested they would not hold a referendum until Britain has one too, and that is not going to happen.
The two parties which will now dominate the Polish parliament are sometimes described as Eurosceptic, but it is probably better to say that they are not starry-eyed.
They do not have an idealistic vision of the EU as the vehicle to ever closer union, but neither do they want to take Poland out of the organisation it joined such a short time ago.
Their vision is dominated by what they see as Poland's best economic interests. Poland is not likely to join the euro in the near future.
Civil Platform, which many had expected to be the biggest party, is keen on joining and wants a referendum soon - soon meaning 2010. But it turns out Law and Justice will have the most seats and they cannot see many advantages in joining and will not hold a referendum until 2015.
There is no doubt that Britain's centre-left Tony Blair will yet again feel happier with European Union partners on the centre-right.
Nationalism
Both Polish parties are keen on economic liberalism and are likely to back Mr Blair in his campaign for a Europe that is more dynamic and less bothered about formal workers rights and social protection.
But this drive, at home and abroad, will only exacerbate worries in the those countries that are worried about the 10 new members who have joined the EU.
The Polish plumber was a bogeyman figure in the French referendum: someone who would do work on the cheap, putting righteous French plumbers out of a job.
The new Polish government hopes the country will be full of plumbers and other workers taking their businesses all over the EU, unhindered by the high costs at home that joining the euro could mean.
Both parties are more nationalistic than their predecessors: a more aggressive attitude towards Germany and Russia is on the cards. And they are likely to be less keen on Turkey joining the EU club?
Some will say the elections are "bad for the EU"- but they mean bad for one particular vision of the European Union. The new Polish government will have vigorous opinions on the direction of the EU.
The big argument continues: watch this space.
PiS = bad TLA
Anyhow, Good for Poland.
Good for the Poles. More power to 'em!
Why are they nicknamed "the ducks"? Is there some quackery about them? Or are they unsinkable?
I don't care for their brother, Ted. :)
But seriously, this is a good result for Poland, I think Poland will be the leader of the anti Paris-Berlin axis in the EU, along with Britain. Especially if Schroeder manages to hang onto power in Germany. If all goes well, Poland may emerge as a powerful country in Europe within a generation. The only concern is keeping the best and brightest in the country rather than having them go abroad. The low voter turnout was a bit disconcerting, though.
I worried that Poland will become dragged down by the French, Germans, all the rest of the socialist A$$wipes in western europe. They are a very nice people with very strong catholic religious beliefs. There country is on a major upswing right now. They soo far have not allowed many immigrants to move there. They make it incredibly difficult for muslims to move there. With them having to take a lead in Europe, I hope they can align themselves closer to Britian, rather than France and Germany.
But Germany and France believe they are the rulers of Europe and everyone is supposed to shutup and let them control everything.
In 1683 the Polish King Jan III Sobieski became a hero to the whole of Christian Europe when he turned back an Islamic invasion at the gates of Vienna. Perhaps Poland is again destined to play such a role in defending Europe's traditions and culture. I often stay at Sobieski's namesake hotel in Warsaw where a bust of the grand old king stands in the lobby.
Nah, the Polish people aren't too fond of the Germans at all. The Fwench are smarmy and sly so who knows if they can sucker in enough public to win support.
At this point they look at USA/Britian/Australia/Japan/India models or Fwance/Germany/Spain/Netherlands group.
I can't believe they'd overcome their concerns with Germany, espically in the face of complete lack of examples of success.
You're right though, can't count on alot of those EuroWeenie nations E of the Brits to be strong allies in the long run. I feel very comfortable with the Aussies down in their Area, I am very confident in Japan, India will be very important (esp with China), and bet is that Iraq will (in a decades time) be a strong ally to help out in the ME.
The good guys are definately looking a hellova' lot better globally since GWB got elected, ESPICALLY 2001-'05.
Meanwhile Fwance has lost the Olympics, the EU constitution has been rejected by France itself, the Netherlands are rethinking some of their more 'liberal' immigration laws, Schroder is barely hanging on, and so on.
By the grace of God they will succeed.
What a lovely thought.
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