Poland at a Turning Point:
Reflections of a Political Man
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Poland’s general election on September 25, 2005, marks a turning point for the country. Its political landscape is on the verge of undergoing long-lasting changes. The victory for the parties Law and Justice and Civic Platform, both of which lay claim to the Solidarność legacy, fed on the disappointment in the results of transformation and in the failure of the post-communists, whose support collapsed in the maelstrom of numerous corruption affairs. The winners, the brothers Kaczyński and their followers, see this success as the first step in reshaping the republic: Their goal is to strengthen the presidency at the expense of parliament. Whether they succeed depends on the results of the presidential election later this autumn.
(Osteuropa 10/2005, pp. 149–155)