Poland at a crossroads? Analysing the 2019 parliamentary elections

On 13 October Polish voters go the polls to re-elect 460 member Sejm. The outgoing conservative Law and Justice (PiS)-led government will be hoping to extend the absolute parliamentary majority it won in 2015. However, the PiS administration has proved highly controversial and mobilised intense opposition on the liberal centre and left.  Critics claim its policies have set Poland on a path of authoritarian backsliding, while supporters have hailed it as a socially transformational government defending national interests. Outsider parties may also pose an unexpected challenge.

In this roundtable event, leading specialists on Polish politics and society offer expert analysis and interpretation of the election campaign and the results, as well as reflecting on the likely shape of a new government and the changing nature of Polish politics.

Chair: Prof Anne White (UCL SSEES)

Speakers:

Dr Anna Gwiazda (KCL)

Prof Aleks Szczerbiak (University of Sussex)

Jakub Krupa (Former UK Correspondent for Polish Press Agency)