Poland's Elections Thread 2015

[The Larch]

Apparently Korwin Mikke has been fined and suspended for 10 days from the European parliament for doing the nazi salute during one of their sessions.

[The Brain]

Apparently Korwin Mikke has been fined and suspended for 10 days from the European parliament for doing the nazi salute during one of their sessions.

Another yoyo enthusiast becomes victim of prejudice.

[Syt]

So Beata Szydlo has been sworn in and spoke before parliament. I'm taking this from an Austrian paper, so Mart please feel free to correct.

Key words were patriotism, honor, and security.

Security for Polish citizens will be prime priority for the government. They will show solidarity with France, but Polish security takes precedence.

There's going to be a few gifts to voters: more money for children with families, the retirement age will be lowered to 60 (women) and 65 (men), the tax exempt income will be raised, medication for over 75 year olds will be free, and a minimum wage will be introduced (or raised? German language article isn't clear).

This is to be financed by increased taxes on large supermarket chains and banks (i.e. mostly foreign investors), and the expected economic growth. EU monies are to be used more carefully and more efficiently.

Economic focus will be on heavy and chemical industry, but also IT industry. There's to be better social security for farmers, and the sale of Polish farmland to foreigners shall be restricted while also renegotiating agricultural subsidies from the EU.

They're also taking back several educational reforms, and stress that "patriotic education" is of great importance throughout the entirety of a person's life in school.

With regards to refugees she stressed again that Poland will not take in additional refugees, and that "exporting your problems to other countries isn't solidarity."



Charming.

[Martinus]

Yup, pretty much (the minimum wage is being raised, btw). Nationalism and socialism make for such a charming combination, n'est-ce pas?

The only hope is that they will be as ineffective as 10 years ago. And I think Poland is not Hungary, in that NGOs, independent media and grass root movements are much stronger here.

[Valmy]

Women retire earlier than men? That seems counter-intuitive. Women live longer after all.

[Martinus]

Women retire earlier than men? That seems counter-intuitive. Women live longer after all.

I suppose this is somehow linked to the idea that a woman's place is at home to take care of grandchildren.

[Admiral Yi]

I fear for my Polish index fund. 

[Tonitrus]

I fear for my Polish index fund. 

[Ed Anger] Potatoes are recession-proof. [/Ed Anger]

[Ed Anger]

I fear for my Polish index fund. 

[Ed Anger] Potatoes are recession-proof. [/Ed Anger]

They are.

[Martinus]

Should I invest in potato futures?

[Tonitrus]

Should I invest in potato futures?

Just make sure they're not invested in Irish potatoes.

[Martinus]

The new government didn't take long to make changes...

Polish minister tries to ban Nobel winner's 'pornographic' play
Piotr Gliński's move seen by civil liberties groups as a sign country is poised for a return to draconian state censorship

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/23/polish-minister-tries-to-ban-nobel-winners-pornographic-play