Polish Presidential Election.

[marinello59]

I don’t know if anybody else has been following the Polish Presidential election but it looks like a very narrow win for present incumbent Andrzej Duda, backed by the right wing Law and Justice party over the more liberal Raphael Trzaskowski backed by Civic Platform.
Not good for LGBT rights, etc if Duda wins. He is also set on a major collision course with the EU as he seeks to further undermine the independence of the judiciary in Poland. There could be interesting times ahead.
Exit polls have it around 51% to Duda and 49% to Trzaskowski but doesn't include Poles voting abroad.

[hibsbollah]

Authoritarian right wing governments all over the place. India, Brazil, Philippines, Poland, USA, Hungary just off the top of my head. There’s a strong argument that China could now accurately be described as a right wing authoritarian regime too. Quite a chunk of the worlds population.

[Hibrandenburg]

Authoritarian right wing governments all over the place. India, Brazil, Philippines, Poland, USA, Hungary just off the top of my head. There’s a strong argument that China could now accurately be described as a right wing authoritarian regime too. Quite a chunk of the worlds population.

You missed out the UK.

[Colr]

I don’t know if anybody else has been following the Polish Presidential election but it looks like a very narrow win for present incumbent Andrzej Duda, backed by the right wing Law and Justice party over the more liberal Raphael Trzaskowski backed by Civic Platform.
Not good for LGBT rights, etc if Duda wins. He is also set on a major collision course with the EU as he seeks to further undermine the independence of the judiciary in Poland. There could be interesting times ahead.
Exit polls have it around 51% to Duda and 49% to Trzaskowski but doesn't include Poles voting abroad.

Interesting generational split. Duma is backed by 50+ and has little support amongst the young.

I’m sorry to say it but my generation and my parents generation have turned out to be a right shower of ****s.

[BroxburnHibee]

It honestly worries me the way the world is going.

[Glory Lurker]

You missed out the UK.

Spot on. :-(

[marinello59]

Interesting generational split. Duma is backed by 50+ and has little support amongst the young.

I’m sorry to say it but my generation and my parents generation have turned out to be a right shower of ****s.

I wouldn't be too harsh on the older generation in Poland given that they will have strong memories of life under the Soviet occupation. Duda's party (though he is officially independent) offer a strange mixture of Nationalist populism and progressive economic policies. When you consider the hardships that generation of Poles lived under you can see why it so attractive to them. The Church now has huge influence in Poland and Duda's party are seen as protecting traditional Catholic values. Solidarnosc may be a greatly diminished force these days but they have also thrown their their support behind Duda.

[ekhibee]

You missed out the UK.

I was just about to say that too.

I think it's also interesting that the vast majority of Poles who live outside Poland voted against Duda.

[marinello59]

I was just about to say that too.

I think it's also interesting that the vast majority of Poles who live outside Poland voted against Duda.

Duda only got around 16% of the vote from Poles in the UK in the first round. It may be due in part to their average age being relatively young.

[Glory Lurker]

What is it with older voters chucking young people's hopes in the bin? Sure, if the young folk turned out it would prevent it happening, but that doesn't excuse voting for it. So depressing.

[Mibbes Aye]

I wouldn't be too harsh on the older generation in Poland given that they will have strong memories of life under the Soviet occupation. Duda's party (though he is officially independent) offer a strange mixture of Nationalist populism and progressive economic policies. When you consider the hardships that generation of Poles lived under you can see why it so attractive to them. The Church now has huge influence in Poland and Duda's party are seen as protecting traditional Catholic values. Solidarnosc may be a greatly diminished force these days but they have also thrown their their support behind Duda.

Similar but different in the Czech Republic, but essentially the point you are making in regard to Polska rings true.

The Catholic faith is maybe now weaker in Česká Republicka and there is no lack of ‘Westernisation’ but definitely a small-c conservatism, especially outside Prague. It is a fascinating mix of viewpoints.

[ekhibee]

Duda only got around 16% of the vote from Poles in the UK in the first round. It may be due in part to their average age being relatively young.

Yep, you might have a point there. I know several Poles, all roughly in their early/late twenties, and not one of them voted for Duda.