I hold no torch for the Law and Justice party of Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski (above). But a victory in today's general election for Donald Tusk's opposition Civic Platform, a party which wants to privatise virtually all assets still publicly owned, (including the country's health service) and cut back social spending, would hardly represent an improvement in the fortunes of Poland's long suffering population. If the choice for Poland has to be between Kaczynski- who for all his many faults, still believes in the concept of economic justice and Tusk, who clearly doesn't, then I'm afraid it really is a case of "better the devil you know". But what a sad state of affairs that the Poles are faced with such a poor choice of alternative governments.
2 comments:
The Law and Justice Party in Poland did enormous harm by supporting the neoconservative war agenda, but at least stopped short of endorsing the neocons' beloved cause of Turkish membership of the EU, which would subject us all to laws made by members of the Islamist AKP, sister-party of the Tories as an associate member (and full member in waiting) of the European People's Party.
But the Civic Platform is even worse, wishing to privatise absolutely everything, even including the Health Service, and so turn Poland into a replica of rabidly neoliberal and therefore increasingly famine-stricken Hungary. It is the sort of party for which the embittered old Blairite whingers could vote without batting an eyelid. No wonder that the Eustonite pseudo-Left is going bananas with glee at the Civic Platform's victory. Says it all, really.
The pro-life, pro-family, pro-worker and anti-war League of Polish Families might be outspoken by the standards to which we are used, but that can be a good thing, not least in the face of neoliberal economics, the corresponding neoconservative warmongering geopolitics, and their two-pronged assault on life and the family. And I can see no other hope for Poland. If anyone can, then do please let me know.
Mr. Clark,
First of all, thanks for your blog. It really is a different voice compared to the mainstream (neolib/neocon) media.
What I can say from another country in the region concerns the same basic issue, namely the elimination of a left-wing/socialist party and the choice between two right wing parties. Something very similar is going on in Romania as well. In addition to this, the (Romanian) Social Democrat Party is undergoing a "reform" towards something like the Hungarian Social Dems or New Labour.
Post a Comment