Over half of Poles believe democracy is under threat

Among them, one in three believe democracy is in serious jeopardy, as opposed to some 35 percent of Poles who do not see any threat to the country’s political system.

Pessimism runs deepest among urban dwellers, with 70 percent fearing for the future of democracy in Poland, with 55 percent of inhabitants of rural areas sharing this sentiment.

Meanwhile, young people appear to be least concerned with the perceived threat, standing at 44 percent, against 38 percent who have no such fears.

The poll, run on a sample of 1,100 adults on 28-29 November, comes after a series of swift decisions recently taken by ruling conservative Law and Justice party, who took power after the 25 October general ballot.

The most controversial step taken so far was last week’s late-night vote in Parliament annulling five members of the 15-strong Constitutional Tribunal, weeks after they were nominated by the former Civic Platform-led government shortly before losing power.

The party also drew criticism from opposition and the media after Law and Justice-backed President Andrzej Duda pardoned former security chief Mariusz Kamiński, who had been sentenced over abuse of power earlier this year.

The step came days after the new Parliament, where Law and Justice enjoys an outright majority, did away with the rotational chairmanship of the parliamentary security services commission, thus limiting the opposition’s oversight capabilities. (aba/rk)

Source: Rzeczpospolita