Polish president warned over ultra-right shift

The Belfast Telegraph ^ | 25 October 2005 | Stephen Castle

[loreldan]

"Germany has been concerned about the nationalist tone of his rhetoric"

Ah, the irony...

[eastsider]

Germany has been concerned about the nationalist tone of his rhetoric.

HA!

[michaelbfree]

"People are alert. I hope the Polish president will not seek to challenge some of the basic principles and values of the EU."

What values????

[lizol]

Eastern European ping list

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[philsfan24]

A spokesman for the European Commission said: "One of the conditions for starting negotiations with a potential candidate country is that the existing death penalty must be abolished. This is considered not to be in line with the basic values, on which the EU is based."

death penalty is not a basic value but the systematic murder of millions of children through abortion is?

[Atlantic Bridge]

The stance of Lech Kaczynski towards capital punishment will be a real test if the EU in the current formation will remain stable or not. Since most western European countries, their politicians and their populace see the death penalty simply as a babaric act that is not compatible to European values*, I am afraid that this point on the agenda of President Kaczynski brings in even more dynamite into the Polish-European relations than his idea to present Germany a bill for WWII reparations.

It is quite probable that espechially the Benelux, Sweden, the UK and probably France will give Lech Kaczynski hard resistance to his approach. Furthermore capital punishment is in contradiction to European law that was accepted by Poland.

Do you think that Kaczynski will enforce his ideas although he will probably be isolated within Europe or not?


*
To my American friends: Things and values in Europe are different to those in America. I just reflect the current situation and I do not want to offend anybody.

[lizol]

You know, all these journalists' comments about Kaczynski's stance on death penalty and its alleged influence on Poland's position within EU are either symptom of lack of knowledge, or just bad attitude towards conservative Kaczynski in general (like towards Bush).

Kaczynski actually supports bringing death penalty back to Polish criminal law. But he's stated many times, that he'd do it, if it was possible within the frames of current legal system.
And he's fully aware it's not possible if Poland wants to stay within EU (and he wants to stay).
So those are just his views, shared by majority of the Poles.

[FreedomNeocon]

Germany has been concerned about the nationalist tone of his rhetoric"

ROTFL... the author HAD to intend that as a joke.

[Atlantic Bridge]

You know, all these journalists' comments about Kaczynski's stance on death penalty and its alleged influence on Poland's position within EU are either symptom of lack of knowledge, or just bad attitude towards conservative Kaczynski in general (like towards Bush).

Yep! Journalists always had bad manners. It is their job to exaggerate to sell more copies of their newspapers. The thing is, that the real information has to get through to the people. Due to our state owned TV (ARD/ZDF) this is not always the case in Germany, although somebody interested can get all nessecary infos out of the very good German newspapers (i.e. DIE WELT, FAZ). The FAZ gave a much more balanced picture of Kaczynski than the ARD i.e..

Kaczynski actually supports bringing death penalty back to Polish criminal law. But he's stated many times, that he'd do it, if it was possible within the frames of current legal system. And he's fully aware it's not possible if Poland wants to stay within EU (and he wants to stay). So those are just his views, shared by majority of the Poles.

So this is nothing but hot air... Same old story.

[Atlantic Bridge]

He will never allow German neo-Nazis like Erica Steinbach to offend the Polish people.

Will he send GROM or is carpet bombing going to be more suitable?

[Antoninus]

25 October 2005 Poland was given a blunt warning over its human rights obligations yesterday - after the election of a president who has sought to curb gay rights and campaigned for the restoration of the death penalty.

SINCE WHEN IS SODOMY A HUMAN RIGHT?!?!?

[Antoninus]

To my American friends: Things and values in Europe are different to those in America. I just reflect the current situation and I do not want to offend anybody.

That's part of your problem. Why do you care if you're offending anybody? If you believe your opinion is right, don't be such a wuss about it!

[FFIGHTER]

The current trend in the whole of Europe,with a few exceptions is conservative. There is a major rethinking of immigration, integration of EU countries and the Euro. There is growing resentment and concern of the unabridged power and influence of unelected bureaucrats in Brussels, and their meddling in internal politics. That being any right of center, or for that matter center-left government being publically ostracized and lectured to. They do not or will not recognize the lawfully elected officials of governments that they don't agree with. The EU as we know it, could possibly be collapsing in and on its self for it lacks legitimacy and standing. The recent election in France (one of the EU architects) regarding the EU is a strong indication, that a majority of Europeans believe they were high-jacked with regards to the EU. Originally sold to them as a trading bloc, which has attempted to forgo the will of the people, going after individual member countries sovereignty in a attempt to convene a bloodless coup and create the European empire, that has been tried by so many through force, and yet they were not able to achieve it.

[Unam Sanctam]

Politicians have been alarmed by the statements of the president-elect, and are hoping he and his party will be reined in when in office. Martin Schultz, leader of the socialist group in the European Parliament, said Mr Kaczynski is "on probation", adding: "I hope the president will be a different kind of person to the [one we saw as] candidate."

What utter arrogance! Of course Martin chulz was instrumental in imposing the religious test eliminating Signore Buttiglione from the European Commission because he stated his Catholic belief that- gasp - homosexual activity was immoral. Mustn't have any freedom of thought or speech on homosexuality in the new Europe...

[SaltyJoe]

I agree with Atlantic Bridge's polite attitude especially concerning German and Polish issues. It's never a problem to give a gentleman's courtesy even in expressing an opinion.

The conservative Germans and the Poles share a conservative Pope. Even if there many of both nations who aren't Catholic, the family values of Pope Benedict XVI will appeal to the universal goals of both societies. Both nations can draw upon their Christian history to counter the aggression of socialist liberal politics and policies.

[AdmSmith]

I was hoping for Tusk as he would have put more pressure on a flat tax model in Europe that would increase the probability that Washington as well change the tax system. We need to change in order to compete with China and India and their low wages. Now we will have a social democratic policy in both Germany and Poland.

[dfwgator]

Note to the rest of Europe, the days of pushing Poland around are over. Deal with it.