Interia works with leading editorial offices around the world. In our weekly, Friday series “Interia closer to the world” we publish the most interesting texts of the most important foreign newspapers. The British “The Economist”, from which the following article comes from, has been published continuously since 1843 and is one of the most popular magazines in the world devoted to political and business. It has the opinion of one of the more influential press titles in the world. From the very beginning, the weekly invariably sticks to the liberal course.
She disappeared from the map twice, absorbed by the predatory neighbors. After the Second World War, she emerged as a Soviet satellite and survived the decades of oppression. Today, Poland has transformed into the most unobvious military and economic power Europe – with an army greater than Great Britain, France or Germany and living standards, which in a moment can overshadow Japan.
Right now, when Poland should stand proudly and high again, will decide to renounce its influence?
This is a question that Poles face in the decisive the second round of presidential elections on June 1. The vision of the candidate supported by the Law and Justice party (PiS) is a variety of right -wing nationalism that feeds on conflict with Poland's neighbors and the European Union.
A competitive vision, derived from the political center, is that in the dangerous world Poland needs Europe, just as Europe needs Poland as a source of security and economic dynamics. Unfortunately, the right can be the top at the moment.
Poland – a short success story
Over the past three decades Poland has shown how much a country can achieve thanks to European integration and good economic policy. The income per person has increased more than three times since 1995. Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has never experienced a reflection, except for a short, peak phase of pandemic closure. During these two decades, its average annual increase was almost 4 percent.
The fruits of this growth are visible throughout the country. Warsawthe capital, it boasts the highest building in Europe Apart from Russia, Varso skyscraper; Under him, shops and cafes of designer, IT startups and fashion houses are teeming with life. On the once neglected village, beautiful roads, often built for money from the EU, cross with the view of well -kept fields, farms and new houses.
Poles once went abroad in search of work massivelybut their homeland has been more attracted for several years. Industrial production blooms thanks to the neighborhood with Germany, even when the west neighbor, like most Europe, plunged into stagnation. When Germany, under the leadership of the new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will begin the planned increase in expenditure on infrastructure and defense, Poland will probably be a beneficiary.
For a long time, sensitive to the threat of Russia, Poland has used its resources to increase security. Currently The largest army in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, and the third largest in NATO. It spends over 4 percent its GDP per year to defense, well above 2 percent, which have been NATO's goal since 2014, and plans to increase this indicator to over 5 percent. next year.
Four Safety Musketeers
The success of Poland translated into influence. Currently, the group that matters the most in terms of European security is sometimes called four musketeers: This is Great Britain, France, Niemicy and Poland, like an excellent swordsman d'Artagnan.
Significantly, her Prime Minister Donald Tusk went to Kiev at the beginning of this month with his three counterparts to emphasize that Europe is ready to stand on the side of Ukraine, even when America's involvement weakened.
The attitude of Poland is clearly different from the other countries of the Visegrad Group. Hungary under Viktor Orban and Slovakia under Robert Ficy stood on the side of Russia, not Ukraine; And the Czech Republic will probably tilt in this direction after the October election.
Considering Poland's achievements, largely achieved within 10 years in which PiS exercised powerit could be concluded that she could continue her renaissance with each of the candidates in the June complementary elections – especially since the role of the president in Poland is less influential than the premiere. However, such thinking would be a mistake.
The charm of the Polish constitution and the powers of the president
According to the Constitution President's veto It can only be rejected for most of the three fifth in the Sejm, the lower room. Donald Tusk is not the majority. The current president, Andrzej Duda, is a former PiS politician who blocked or delayed many reforms of the new government.
PiS wants his successor to become his successor Karol Nawrockian ardent ideologist who would be even less decisive than President Duda. Nawrocki will almost certainly use his rights to block Tusk. And all this to Pour the way to PiS victory in the next parliamentary elections.
To win the presidential election, he would have to count on the support of far -right parties that use the growing anti -Ukrainian moods; One of them is an anti -Semitic opening.
Why does this mean? Tusk tries to deal with the effects of the state appropriation of the state after the rule of this party, which lasted from 2015 to 2023.
At that time, when implementing a reasonable economic and security policy, PiS systematically took over independent institutions, including judiciary, media, civil service and a central bank. PiS fights with Brussels for the rule of law caused Poland to be temporarily excluded from some EU aid programs.
Whereas Tusk is a committed European – Earlier he was the chairman of the European Council in Brussels. Under his rule, Poland cooperated with other European countries in the field of security, diplomacy and defense, for the benefit of everyone.
If Poles used the presidential election to vote for Rafał Trzaskowski, an ally of Tusk, who is the president of Warsaw, cooperation with the EU would be easier, and Poland's influence would increase even more.
The world has changed since Tusk took power. With another Donald back in the White House, the task of building a strategic autonomy of Europe is not only a luxury, but urgent necessity.
Poland could not only set an example in the field of security, but also serve as A powerful voice supporting Ukraine and repelling Russia. In economic terms, Poland is an example for Central and Eastern European countries. And Tusk himself could be a supporter of economic reforms, which the EU needs desperately.
Sunday elections in Poland will be very even. In the first round, the candidates of the extreme right won about 52 percent. votes. If Nawrocki won the second round, both Poland and Europe would suffer.
Europe would lose the source of dynamics, and Poland would risk losing their place in the heart of Europe, which it has sought so hard.
Tekst przetłumaczony z “The Economist”© The Economist Newspaper Limited, London, 2025
Carbinths come from the editorial office of Interia.