Poland: Warsaw witnesses pro and anti-LGBT supporters face off

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland.

Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in Warsaw that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence.

The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernisation of existing capabilities and facilities by granting US forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-send-troops-from-germany-to-poland-to-send-signal-to-russia-308394">Trump to send troops from Germany to Poland to send signal to Russia</a>

Some 4,500 US troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added, under a bilateral decision announced last year.

Last month, in line with President Donald Trump's demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that some 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-orders-9500-us-troops-to-depart-from-germany-303873">Donald Trump orders 9,500 US troops to depart from Germany</a>

In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year.

Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement of the issue. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2 per cent&nbsp;of their gross domestic product.

In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year.

Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a UN Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the US Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president.

Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China and has received a warm welcome.

In Poland, the reception was particularly kind given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election.

Many of Duda's Law and Justice party's policies have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU member country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland. Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in Warsaw that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernisation of existing capabilities and facilities by granting US forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country. Also read: Trump to send troops from Germany to Poland to send signal to Russia Some 4,500 US troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added, under a bilateral decision announced last year. Last month, in line with President Donald Trump's demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that some 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. Also read: Donald Trump orders 9,500 US troops to depart from Germany In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement of the issue. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2 per cent of their gross domestic product. In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a UN Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the US Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president. Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China and has received a warm welcome. In Poland, the reception was particularly kind given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election. Many of Duda's Law and Justice party's policies have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU member country.

Pompeo signs deal for US troops move from Germany to Poland

An estimation by Poland's statistics office on Friday showed that the country is experiencing recession since the end of the communist era that happened three decades ago.

An estimation by Poland's statistics office on Friday showed that the country is experiencing recession since the end of the communist era that happened three decades ago. Due to the coronavirus lockdown, the country's economy shrank by 8.9 per cent in the second quarter. The economy witnessed a contraction of 0.4 per cent in the first quarter. Recession is defined two consecutive quarters of contraction. During the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, Poland was the only European Union member state enjoyed a healthy growth rate and avoided recession. Also read: Two patients in China test positive months after coronavirus recovery Country's GDP grew by 4.1 per cent in 2019, which was slightly lower than that of 2018 (5.3 per cent). According to the Polish Economic Institute, an independent research centre, country's economy "should recover". The Polish government has forecasted 3.4 per cent contraction this year, down from a previous prognosis of 3.7 per cent growth. The European Commission forecast in May that the Polish economy would shrink by 4.3 per cent overall in 2020 and bounce back with 4.1 per cent expansion in 2021. (Inputs from AFP)

Virus-hit Poland in first recession since communist era: Official data

Thousands of people protested across Poland on Saturday waving rainbow flags, a day after a gay rights activist was taken into custody for two months of pre-trial detention.

About 50 demonstrators were also detained by police on Friday as the activist, who identifies as a woman named Margot, was taken away in central Warsaw following a controversial court order.

The biggest solidarity protest on Saturday was outside the Soviet-era Palace of Culture in Warsaw, where an AFP photographer saw several thousand people -- some holding umbrellas with LGBT flags on them.

"We are meeting to protest together against violence and systemic homophobia," the organisers, a coalition of gay rights groups, said in a statement.

"Empathy, Solidarity, Action!" read one of the placards, while some protesters chanted slogans against the police and others shouted "you'll never walk alone!" -- addressing the arrested campaigner.

In Lublin, a city southeast of Warsaw that has declared itself an "LGBT-free zone", a small group of mostly young campaigners marched through the centre and rallied outside the local prosecutor's office.

"Gay By Birth, Proud By Choice" and "Solidarity is Our Weapon", read some of the signs at the rally where campaigners also carried rainbow flag bags and balloons.

"We are tired of this government," said Julia, 17, who declined to giver her full name for fear of reprisals.

- LGBT flags on Warsaw monuments -

Homophobia is still widespread in the devout Catholic country whose right-wing governing Law and Justice party has repeatedly used anti-gay rhetoric, including in the run-up to last month's presidential election.

President Andrzej Duda has campaigned against what he calls "LGBT ideology", likening it to communism.

At his swearing-in ceremony in parliament on Thursday, leftist MPs wore the colours of the rainbow flag.

The flag has become an emblem of anti-government sentiment in Poland, particularly in recent months.

This week, Polish police charged three people for desecrating statues and hurting religious feelings after campaigners draped several Warsaw monuments, including one of Jesus Christ, with LGBT flags.

The activist who was arrested on Friday, referred to officially in court as Michal Sz, belongs to a campaign group called "Stop the Nonsense" that claimed responsibility for the monument flag protest.

But the arrest was linked to a separate case from June of criminal damage to a van of the Pro-Right to Life Foundation that was covered in homophobic slogans.

After Margot was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia, an AFP photographer saw dozens of protesters blocking the police car carrying her.

There were scuffles with dozens of police officers, who eventually cleared the way for the car to pass.

Warsaw police said on Twitter that 48 people were arrested in connection with "insults directed at police as well as damage to a police car".

- 'Very chilling signal' -

Margot called this type of pre-trial detention, which is normally used to prevent another crime being committed, a "repressive" measure, in comments to the PAP news agency before her arrest.

Her arrest prompted outrage from opposition politicians and rights groups.

The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic called for Margot's release.

Mijatovic tweeted that the activist was detained "for blocking an anti-LGBT hate van and putting rainbow flags on Warsaw monuments," adding that an order for Margot's two-month detention sends a "very chilling signal" for freedom of speech and LGBT rights in Poland.

Hanna-Gill Piatek, a leftist lawmaker, was at the scene of Margot's arrest.

"I wish serious criminals were prosecuted as diligently as activists," she said.

Thousands of people protested across Poland on Saturday waving rainbow flags, a day after a gay rights activist was taken into custody for two months of pre-trial detention.

Thousands of people protested across Poland on Saturday waving rainbow flags, a day after a gay rights activist was taken into custody for two months of pre-trial detention. About 50 demonstrators were also detained by police on Friday as the activist, who identifies as a woman named Margot, was taken away in central Warsaw following a controversial court order. The biggest solidarity protest on Saturday was outside the Soviet-era Palace of Culture in Warsaw, where an AFP photographer saw several thousand people -- some holding umbrellas with LGBT flags on them. "We are meeting to protest together against violence and systemic homophobia," the organisers, a coalition of gay rights groups, said in a statement. "Empathy, Solidarity, Action!" read one of the placards, while some protesters chanted slogans against the police and others shouted "you'll never walk alone!" -- addressing the arrested campaigner. In Lublin, a city southeast of Warsaw that has declared itself an "LGBT-free zone", a small group of mostly young campaigners marched through the centre and rallied outside the local prosecutor's office. "Gay By Birth, Proud By Choice" and "Solidarity is Our Weapon", read some of the signs at the rally where campaigners also carried rainbow flag bags and balloons. "We are tired of this government," said Julia, 17, who declined to giver her full name for fear of reprisals. - LGBT flags on Warsaw monuments - Homophobia is still widespread in the devout Catholic country whose right-wing governing Law and Justice party has repeatedly used anti-gay rhetoric, including in the run-up to last month's presidential election. President Andrzej Duda has campaigned against what he calls "LGBT ideology", likening it to communism. At his swearing-in ceremony in parliament on Thursday, leftist MPs wore the colours of the rainbow flag. The flag has become an emblem of anti-government sentiment in Poland, particularly in recent months. This week, Polish police charged three people for desecrating statues and hurting religious feelings after campaigners draped several Warsaw monuments, including one of Jesus Christ, with LGBT flags. The activist who was arrested on Friday, referred to officially in court as Michal Sz, belongs to a campaign group called "Stop the Nonsense" that claimed responsibility for the monument flag protest. But the arrest was linked to a separate case from June of criminal damage to a van of the Pro-Right to Life Foundation that was covered in homophobic slogans. After Margot was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia, an AFP photographer saw dozens of protesters blocking the police car carrying her. There were scuffles with dozens of police officers, who eventually cleared the way for the car to pass. Warsaw police said on Twitter that 48 people were arrested in connection with "insults directed at police as well as damage to a police car". - 'Very chilling signal' - Margot called this type of pre-trial detention, which is normally used to prevent another crime being committed, a "repressive" measure, in comments to the PAP news agency before her arrest. Her arrest prompted outrage from opposition politicians and rights groups. The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic called for Margot's release. Mijatovic tweeted that the activist was detained "for blocking an anti-LGBT hate van and putting rainbow flags on Warsaw monuments," adding that an order for Margot's two-month detention sends a "very chilling signal" for freedom of speech and LGBT rights in Poland. Hanna-Gill Piatek, a leftist lawmaker, was at the scene of Margot's arrest. "I wish serious criminals were prosecuted as diligently as activists," she said.

Thousands protest in Poland after LGBT activist's arrest

Protests ensued in Warsaw on Friday as Polish police tried to arrest a gay rights activist after a court ordered the campaigner held for two months preventive detention.

The activist, who was referred to officially in court as Michal Sz, but who identifies as a woman with the name Margo, is suspected of causing criminal damage to a van carrying homophobic slogans in Warsaw in June. The activist is also accused of pushing a volunteer from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation which owned the van.

Margo was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia but dozens of protesters then blocked the police car, prompting a stand-off before officers cleared the way to allow it to pass.

The police later said they had made arrests.

Margo belongs to a campaign group called Stop The Nonsense, which is also suspected of draping several Warsaw monuments, including a statue of Jesus Christ, with LGBT flags and anarchist symbols last week.

Prosecutors have charged three people in that case for desecrating monuments and hurting religious feelings.

The van from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation is a common sight in the centre of Warsaw, blasting homophobic slogans and plastered with posters linking homosexuality to paedophilia.

Protests ensued in Warsaw on Friday as Polish police tried to arrest a gay rights activist after a court ordered the campaigner held for two months preventive detention.

Protests ensued in Warsaw on Friday as Polish police tried to arrest a gay rights activist after a court ordered the campaigner held for two months preventive detention. The activist, who was referred to officially in court as Michal Sz, but who identifies as a woman with the name Margo, is suspected of causing criminal damage to a van carrying homophobic slogans in Warsaw in June. The activist is also accused of pushing a volunteer from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation which owned the van. Margo was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia but dozens of protesters then blocked the police car, prompting a stand-off before officers cleared the way to allow it to pass. The police later said they had made arrests. Margo belongs to a campaign group called Stop The Nonsense, which is also suspected of draping several Warsaw monuments, including a statue of Jesus Christ, with LGBT flags and anarchist symbols last week. Prosecutors have charged three people in that case for desecrating monuments and hurting religious feelings. The van from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation is a common sight in the centre of Warsaw, blasting homophobic slogans and plastered with posters linking homosexuality to paedophilia.

LGBT activist jailed for two months in Poland, protests ensue

Police said they detained 48 people after protesters tried to stop them arresting an LGBT activist accused of hanging rainbow flags over statues in Warsaw and damaging a pro-life campaigner's van.

The activist, who was referred to officially in court as Michal Sz. but who identifies as a woman with the name Margo, is suspected of causing criminal damage to a van carrying homophobic slogans in Warsaw in June.

The activist is also accused of pushing a volunteer from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation which owned the van.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lgbt-activist-jailed-for-two-months-in-poland-protests-ensue-318963">LGBT activist jailed for two months in Poland, protests ensue</a>

Margo was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia but dozens of protesters then blocked the police car, prompting a stand-off before officers cleared the way to allow it to pass.

"During the arrest of the activist, the crowd impeded the actions of the police. Interventions are being made against the most aggressive people. There will be zero tolerance for breaking the law," Warsaw police wrote on Twitter.

"Due to yesterday's active gathering, 48 people were detained," they added. Warsaw police force&nbsp;later said they had made arrests.

Members of the anti-homophobia group "Stop Bzdurom" have said they hung flag on statues of Jesus and other figures last week as part of a fight for LGBT rights, an issue thrust into the heart of public debate in Poland during last month's presidential election.

The ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has said LGBT rights are part of what it calls an invasive foreign ideology that undermines Polish values and the traditional family.

Government spokesman Piotr Muller said he would not comment on police actions.

Stop Bzdurom and other groups have called for a protest in Warsaw on Saturday in solidarity with LGBT people.

Police said they detained 48 people after protesters tried to stop them arresting an LGBT activist accused of hanging rainbow flags over statues in Warsaw and damaging a pro-life campaigner's van.

Police said they detained 48 people after protesters tried to stop them arresting an LGBT activist accused of hanging rainbow flags over statues in Warsaw and damaging a pro-life campaigner's van. The activist, who was referred to officially in court as Michal Sz. but who identifies as a woman with the name Margo, is suspected of causing criminal damage to a van carrying homophobic slogans in Warsaw in June. The activist is also accused of pushing a volunteer from the Pro-Right to Life Foundation which owned the van. Also read: LGBT activist jailed for two months in Poland, protests ensue Margo was detained at the offices of Campaign Against Homophobia but dozens of protesters then blocked the police car, prompting a stand-off before officers cleared the way to allow it to pass. "During the arrest of the activist, the crowd impeded the actions of the police. Interventions are being made against the most aggressive people. There will be zero tolerance for breaking the law," Warsaw police wrote on Twitter. "Due to yesterday's active gathering, 48 people were detained," they added. Warsaw police force later said they had made arrests. Members of the anti-homophobia group "Stop Bzdurom" have said they hung flag on statues of Jesus and other figures last week as part of a fight for LGBT rights, an issue thrust into the heart of public debate in Poland during last month's presidential election. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has said LGBT rights are part of what it calls an invasive foreign ideology that undermines Polish values and the traditional family. Government spokesman Piotr Muller said he would not comment on police actions. Stop Bzdurom and other groups have called for a protest in Warsaw on Saturday in solidarity with LGBT people.

Poland LGBT protests: Police detain 48 people amid crackdown on activists

Poland is known for its enthusiasm in sports but here are few fans in the country who went beyond their way to support their favourite racing team.&nbsp;

These fans rented 18 cranes to watch the game while following the norms of social distancing due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

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They had come to support team Motor Lublin who was up against team GKM Grudziaz at local track racing event last week. 
&nbsp; 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few seats were made available for spectators in the stadium. So these fans rented these cranes to watch the event and support their team.&nbsp;

Pictures and videos of the fans standing on the cranes to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the game made rounds on social media. In pictures, you can see cranes standing outside the stadium carrying fans in a group of four. These fans were seen chanting and setting off flares as Motor Lublin defeated the visiting team by 58-32.&nbsp;

Poland is known for its enthusiasm in sports but here are few fans in the country who went beyond their way to support their favourite racing team. These fans rented 18 cranes to watch the game while following the norms of social distancing due to coronavirus pandemic.

Poland is known for its enthusiasm in sports but here are few fans in the country who went beyond their way to support their favourite racing team. These fans rented 18 cranes to watch the game while following the norms of social distancing due to coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/t3tvwsMzcv — Motor Lublin (@motorlublinpgee) July 20, 2020 × They had come to support team Motor Lublin who was up against team GKM Grudziaz at local track racing event last week. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few seats were made available for spectators in the stadium. So these fans rented these cranes to watch the event and support their team. Pictures and videos of the fans standing on the cranes to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the game made rounds on social media. In pictures, you can see cranes standing outside the stadium carrying fans in a group of four. These fans were seen chanting and setting off flares as Motor Lublin defeated the visiting team by 58-32.

'Chants and flares': Polish fans rent cranes to cheer for racing team amid pandemic

Poland is set to withdraw from a European treaty on violence against women, which the right-wing cabinet says violates parents' rights by requiring schools to teach children about gender.

Poland's justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro said on Saturday the step will take effect from next week. He told a news conference his ministry would submit a request to the labour and families ministry on Monday to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty, known as the Istanbul Convention.

"It contains elements of an ideological nature, which we consider harmful," Ziobro said.

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its coalition partners closely align themselves with the Catholic Church and promote a conservative social agenda. Hostility to gay rights was one of the main issues promoted by President Andrej Duda during a successful re-election campaign this month.

On Friday, thousands of people, mostly women, protested in Warsaw and other cities against proposals to reject the treaty, citing the main motive of the move was to legalise domestic violence.

PiS has long complained about the Istanbul Convention, which Poland ratified under a previous centrist government in 2015. The government says the treaty is disrespectful towards religion and requires teaching liberal social policies in schools, although in the past it has stopped short of a decision to quit.

The World Health Organization says domestic violence has surged this year in Europe during months of lockdown aimed at fighting the coronavirus. 
&nbsp;

Poland is set to withdraw from a European treaty on violence against women, which the right-wing cabinet says violates parents' rights by requiring schools to teach children about gender.

Poland is set to withdraw from a European treaty on violence against women, which the right-wing cabinet says violates parents' rights by requiring schools to teach children about gender. Poland's justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro said on Saturday the step will take effect from next week. He told a news conference his ministry would submit a request to the labour and families ministry on Monday to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty, known as the Istanbul Convention. "It contains elements of an ideological nature, which we consider harmful," Ziobro said. Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its coalition partners closely align themselves with the Catholic Church and promote a conservative social agenda. Hostility to gay rights was one of the main issues promoted by President Andrej Duda during a successful re-election campaign this month. On Friday, thousands of people, mostly women, protested in Warsaw and other cities against proposals to reject the treaty, citing the main motive of the move was to legalise domestic violence. PiS has long complained about the Istanbul Convention, which Poland ratified under a previous centrist government in 2015. The government says the treaty is disrespectful towards religion and requires teaching liberal social policies in schools, although in the past it has stopped short of a decision to quit. The World Health Organization says domestic violence has surged this year in Europe during months of lockdown aimed at fighting the coronavirus.

Poland decides to quit treaty on violence against women, protests follow

Poland's conservative president Andrzej Duda has won another term in power after the second round of results in the presidential elections were revealed on Monday.

Poland's Duda wins 2nd term in office

For Jakub Kwiecins ki and Dawid Mycek, Polish gay couple and LGBT activists, the election win of incumbent president Andrzej Duda comes with fear and disappointment.

Gay activists fear more discrimination as Poland's Duda wins second term

Poland's incumbent Andrzej Duda has won the presidential election, results from over 99% of polling stations show, with remaining uncounted votes unlikely to sway the final outcome, the National Electoral Commission said on Monday.

Duda, an ally of Poland's ruling nationalists, is expected to help the Law and Justice (PiS) party continue its reforms of the judiciary, which have been criticised by the European Union, and generous social spending programmes.

According to the latest results, Duda received 51.21% of the vote, while opposition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski got 48.79% of the vote. The difference in votes between the candidates amounted to around 500,000.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/divided-poland-votes-in-close-presidential-run-off-312821" hreflang="en">Divided Poland votes in close presidential run-off</a>

"I don't want to speak on behalf of the campaign staff, but I think that this difference is large enough that we have to accept the result," Grzegorz Schetyna, the former head of Poland's opposition Civic Platform (PO) grouping and member of parliament told private broadcaster TVN24 on Monday.

Poles voted with almost record turnout, reported at 68.12% by the commission.

The Commission said it wasn't sure when it would announce full official results as some polling stations, including some abroad, had not yet submitted their official counts.&nbsp;

The opposition had earlier said it was collecting information about what it says were voting irregularities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/poland-holds-momentous-tight-presidential-election-runoff-312727" hreflang="en">Poland holds momentous, tight presidential election runoff</a>

"We are gathering information and signals about different irregularities and we are still only talking about polls and only a percentage of results from the National Electoral Commission so we don't have a full picture of the situation," Tomasz Siemoniak, a PO member of parliament told Reuters.&nbsp;

PiS officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The foreign ministry was also unavailable for comment.&nbsp;

"Today or perhaps at the latest tomorrow...we will be able to indicate what the scale of these protests is," Sylwester Marciniak, the head of the electoral commission, told a news conference on Monday.

Poland's incumbent Andrzej Duda has won the presidential election, results from over 99% of polling stations show, with remaining uncounted votes unlikely to sway the final outcome, the National Electoral Commission said on Monday.

Poland's incumbent Andrzej Duda has won the presidential election, results from over 99% of polling stations show, with remaining uncounted votes unlikely to sway the final outcome, the National Electoral Commission said on Monday. Duda, an ally of Poland's ruling nationalists, is expected to help the Law and Justice (PiS) party continue its reforms of the judiciary, which have been criticised by the European Union, and generous social spending programmes. According to the latest results, Duda received 51.21% of the vote, while opposition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski got 48.79% of the vote. The difference in votes between the candidates amounted to around 500,000. Also read: Divided Poland votes in close presidential run-off "I don't want to speak on behalf of the campaign staff, but I think that this difference is large enough that we have to accept the result," Grzegorz Schetyna, the former head of Poland's opposition Civic Platform (PO) grouping and member of parliament told private broadcaster TVN24 on Monday. Poles voted with almost record turnout, reported at 68.12% by the commission. The Commission said it wasn't sure when it would announce full official results as some polling stations, including some abroad, had not yet submitted their official counts. The opposition had earlier said it was collecting information about what it says were voting irregularities. Also read: Poland holds momentous, tight presidential election runoff "We are gathering information and signals about different irregularities and we are still only talking about polls and only a percentage of results from the National Electoral Commission so we don't have a full picture of the situation," Tomasz Siemoniak, a PO member of parliament told Reuters. PiS officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The foreign ministry was also unavailable for comment. "Today or perhaps at the latest tomorrow...we will be able to indicate what the scale of these protests is," Sylwester Marciniak, the head of the electoral commission, told a news conference on Monday.

Poland's incumbent Duda wins presidential election

Incumbent Andrzej Duda was marginally ahead in Poland`s presidential election on Sunday, an exit poll found, in a result seen as likely to have profound implications for Warsaw`s relations with the rest of the European Union.

The re-election of Duda, an ally of the ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS), is crucial if the government is to implement in full its conservative agenda, including judicial reforms that the European Union says are undemocratic.

Duda`s challenger, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, has pledged to repair Poland`s relations with Europe and use the presidential veto power to hold back any legislation that would subvert the rule of law.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-holds-momentous-tight-presidential-election-runoff-312727">Also read:&nbsp;Poland holds momentous, tight presidential election runoff</a>

The exit poll by Ipsos showed Duda winning 50.4% of the vote, while Trzaskowski, the preferred candidate of the main opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), had 49.6%. Ipsos said it was too early to call a winner.

"All we need is to count the votes. The night will be tense but I am certain that when the votes are counted, we will win," Trzaskowski told supporters in a park just outside Warsaw`s historic Old Town.

Partial official results are expected on Monday.

Opinion polls before the election had shown the candidates, both 48, neck and neck, with Trzaskowski having closed the gap on Duda, who initially looked like a clear favourite.

Backed by the government, Duda ran an acrimonious campaign, laced with homophobic language, attacks on independent media and accusations levied against Trzaskowski that he would serve foreign interests instead of Poland`s.

Duda, a devout believer, had painted himself as a defender of Catholic values and of the government`s generous social benefit programmes that have transformed life for many, especially in the poorer rural regions of the country.

He appeared conciliatory on Sunday. "If anyone was offended by anything I did or said in the last five years, not just during the campaign, please accept my apology," he told supporters in Pultusk, a small town north of the capital.

Duda has also championed large infrastructure projects, which he says will create jobs and boost the country`s autonomy and international standing.

Lethal Danger 
For many religious conservatives in Poland, Trzaskowski came to represent the threats facing traditional values when he pledged to introduce education about LGBT rights in the city`s schools.

The archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jedraszewski, told worshippers in the southern city of Czestochowa on Saturday that Poland faced a "lethal danger" from ideologies that seek to undermine the traditional family structure and corrupt children.

Trzaskowski says he seeks a more tolerant Poland and has criticised PiS` rhetoric, vowing to abolish state news channel TVP Info, which critics say gave overt support to Duda in its programming.

"In politics, you should have opponents, not enemies," Trzaskowski said on Sunday. "They thought they had full power, but today they have fear in their eyes."

Duda` re-election to a second five-year term would open up the prospect of three years of uninterrupted rule by PiS, which controls the lower house of parliament, with the next national election scheduled for 2023.

Observers say his defeat could undermine the fragile parliamentary majority that supports the PiS government, raising the spectre of political instability as Poland is coping with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The election is being closely watched in Brussels.

Before PiS and Duda came to power in 2015, Poland had one of the most pro-European administrations in the bloc`s ex-communist east. But it has grown increasingly isolated, with divisions focusing on climate change and migration, in addition to democratic norms.

Incumbent Andrzej Duda was marginally ahead in Poland`s presidential election on Sunday, an exit poll found, in a result seen as likely to have profound implications for Warsaw`s relations with the rest of the European Union.

Incumbent Andrzej Duda was marginally ahead in Poland`s presidential election on Sunday, an exit poll found, in a result seen as likely to have profound implications for Warsaw`s relations with the rest of the European Union. The re-election of Duda, an ally of the ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS), is crucial if the government is to implement in full its conservative agenda, including judicial reforms that the European Union says are undemocratic. Duda`s challenger, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, has pledged to repair Poland`s relations with Europe and use the presidential veto power to hold back any legislation that would subvert the rule of law. Also read: Poland holds momentous, tight presidential election runoff The exit poll by Ipsos showed Duda winning 50.4% of the vote, while Trzaskowski, the preferred candidate of the main opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), had 49.6%. Ipsos said it was too early to call a winner. "All we need is to count the votes. The night will be tense but I am certain that when the votes are counted, we will win," Trzaskowski told supporters in a park just outside Warsaw`s historic Old Town. Partial official results are expected on Monday. Opinion polls before the election had shown the candidates, both 48, neck and neck, with Trzaskowski having closed the gap on Duda, who initially looked like a clear favourite. Backed by the government, Duda ran an acrimonious campaign, laced with homophobic language, attacks on independent media and accusations levied against Trzaskowski that he would serve foreign interests instead of Poland`s. Duda, a devout believer, had painted himself as a defender of Catholic values and of the government`s generous social benefit programmes that have transformed life for many, especially in the poorer rural regions of the country. He appeared conciliatory on Sunday. "If anyone was offended by anything I did or said in the last five years, not just during the campaign, please accept my apology," he told supporters in Pultusk, a small town north of the capital. Duda has also championed large infrastructure projects, which he says will create jobs and boost the country`s autonomy and international standing. Lethal Danger For many religious conservatives in Poland, Trzaskowski came to represent the threats facing traditional values when he pledged to introduce education about LGBT rights in the city`s schools. The archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jedraszewski, told worshippers in the southern city of Czestochowa on Saturday that Poland faced a "lethal danger" from ideologies that seek to undermine the traditional family structure and corrupt children. Trzaskowski says he seeks a more tolerant Poland and has criticised PiS` rhetoric, vowing to abolish state news channel TVP Info, which critics say gave overt support to Duda in its programming. "In politics, you should have opponents, not enemies," Trzaskowski said on Sunday. "They thought they had full power, but today they have fear in their eyes." Duda` re-election to a second five-year term would open up the prospect of three years of uninterrupted rule by PiS, which controls the lower house of parliament, with the next national election scheduled for 2023. Observers say his defeat could undermine the fragile parliamentary majority that supports the PiS government, raising the spectre of political instability as Poland is coping with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The election is being closely watched in Brussels. Before PiS and Duda came to power in 2015, Poland had one of the most pro-European administrations in the bloc`s ex-communist east. But it has grown increasingly isolated, with divisions focusing on climate change and migration, in addition to democratic norms.

Polish presidential election too close to call, incumbent marginally ahead

Poles voted on Sunday in a razor edge presidential run-off election between a populist incumbent allied with US President Donald Trump and a europhile liberal challenger, with experts saying the result will define the future of the country's young democracy.

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The stakes are high for Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party government, which has relied on incumbent President Andrzej Duda to endorse judicial reforms that have set Warsaw on a collision course with the EU over democratic standards just three decades after communism's demise.

Duda was struggling to beat Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) as final opinion polls showed the two running neck and neck.

Wojciech, a 59-year-old builder who declined to give his surname, said he chose Duda because his close ties to Trump meant Poland "can count on the US for defence".&nbsp;

He also said he "agrees completely" with Duda's promise to ban adoption for same-sex couples.

Warsaw pensioners who identified themselves only as Helena and Maria, both in their eighties, said they picked the pro-European Trzaskowski hoping he could "get things back on the right track with the EU".&nbsp;

"We remember too well how it was before (under communism), so for our grandchildren we want Poland to be stable in Europe," Helena told AFP.

Turnout had hit a record high 52.10 percent by 1500 GMT, the state elections commission said, suggesting the coronavirus pandemic had not dampened participation.

Long, snaking queues formed at polling stations as social distancing measures were used to stem infections.

Voters also had to wear masks, use hand sanitiser and their own pens, plus give priority to pensioners, pregnant women and voters with children.&nbsp;

The election had been due in May but was delayed because of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Duda's support has slipped considerably since then, partly because of the virus fallout, which is pushing Poland into its first recession since communism fell.

An exit poll is due when voting wraps up at 1900 GMT while official results are expected Monday morning.

Experts warn that Sunday's result could be too close to call, possibly triggering legal challenges and protests.

Duda won round one on June 28 with 43.5 percent, ahead of Trzaskowski with 30.4 percent.

Now the Warsaw mayor is hoping to sway voters who backed other candidates in the first round.

Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said he will have to mobilise very disparate parts of the electorate against Duda, predicting the incumbent would therefore likely win, though by a narrow margin.

With analysts suggesting that strong voter mobilisation in rural Poland would give him the winning edge, Duda said he would "like to see the highest possible turnout" after voting in the southern city of Krakow.

Duda promises to defend highly popular social welfare payments introduced by the PiS government and has led a polarising campaign, attacking LGBT rights and ruling out certain Jewish wartime compensation claims.

Ahead of the vote, PiS Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro characterised it as "a clash of two visions of Poland, the white-red and rainbow-coloured," referring to the colours of Poland's national flag and the symbol most widely used by the LGBT community.

The PIS government has also lashed out at German-owned media outlets, accusing them of "bias" during the campaign after a tabloid owned by the Ringier Axel Springer Group published a story about Duda pardoning a paedophile.

Trzaskowski promises a very different Poland.

He has said he will roll back controversial PiS reforms of the judiciary that have triggered tension with the European Union.

He also supports allowing same-sex civil partnerships in Poland, although like Duda he opposes adoption by homosexual couples.

A Trzaskowski victory could begin to loosen the PiS's near-total grip on Polish politics.

A Duda win on the other hand would cement the party's power.

"This election will determine Poland's fate for the foreseeable future," said Adam Strzembosz, a former Supreme Court chief justice and respected legal authority.

"Will it be dominated and completely subservient to a certain political party, with all the consequences of power that is dictatorial in nature? Or will we manage to stop this?"

Poles voted on Sunday in a razor edge presidential run-off election between a populist incumbent allied with US President Donald Trump and a europhile liberal challenger, with experts saying the result will define the future of the country's young democracy.

Poles voted on Sunday in a razor edge presidential run-off election between a populist incumbent allied with US President Donald Trump and a europhile liberal challenger, with experts saying the result will define the future of the country's young democracy. Also read: Hungary imposes border checks, quarantine to prevent spread of coronavirus The stakes are high for Poland's right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party government, which has relied on incumbent President Andrzej Duda to endorse judicial reforms that have set Warsaw on a collision course with the EU over democratic standards just three decades after communism's demise. Duda was struggling to beat Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) as final opinion polls showed the two running neck and neck. Wojciech, a 59-year-old builder who declined to give his surname, said he chose Duda because his close ties to Trump meant Poland "can count on the US for defence". He also said he "agrees completely" with Duda's promise to ban adoption for same-sex couples. Warsaw pensioners who identified themselves only as Helena and Maria, both in their eighties, said they picked the pro-European Trzaskowski hoping he could "get things back on the right track with the EU". "We remember too well how it was before (under communism), so for our grandchildren we want Poland to be stable in Europe," Helena told AFP. Turnout had hit a record high 52.10 percent by 1500 GMT, the state elections commission said, suggesting the coronavirus pandemic had not dampened participation. Long, snaking queues formed at polling stations as social distancing measures were used to stem infections. Voters also had to wear masks, use hand sanitiser and their own pens, plus give priority to pensioners, pregnant women and voters with children. The election had been due in May but was delayed because of the pandemic. Duda's support has slipped considerably since then, partly because of the virus fallout, which is pushing Poland into its first recession since communism fell. An exit poll is due when voting wraps up at 1900 GMT while official results are expected Monday morning. Experts warn that Sunday's result could be too close to call, possibly triggering legal challenges and protests. Duda won round one on June 28 with 43.5 percent, ahead of Trzaskowski with 30.4 percent. Now the Warsaw mayor is hoping to sway voters who backed other candidates in the first round. Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said he will have to mobilise very disparate parts of the electorate against Duda, predicting the incumbent would therefore likely win, though by a narrow margin. With analysts suggesting that strong voter mobilisation in rural Poland would give him the winning edge, Duda said he would "like to see the highest possible turnout" after voting in the southern city of Krakow. Duda promises to defend highly popular social welfare payments introduced by the PiS government and has led a polarising campaign, attacking LGBT rights and ruling out certain Jewish wartime compensation claims. Ahead of the vote, PiS Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro characterised it as "a clash of two visions of Poland, the white-red and rainbow-coloured," referring to the colours of Poland's national flag and the symbol most widely used by the LGBT community. The PIS government has also lashed out at German-owned media outlets, accusing them of "bias" during the campaign after a tabloid owned by the Ringier Axel Springer Group published a story about Duda pardoning a paedophile. Trzaskowski promises a very different Poland. He has said he will roll back controversial PiS reforms of the judiciary that have triggered tension with the European Union. He also supports allowing same-sex civil partnerships in Poland, although like Duda he opposes adoption by homosexual couples. A Trzaskowski victory could begin to loosen the PiS's near-total grip on Polish politics. A Duda win on the other hand would cement the party's power. "This election will determine Poland's fate for the foreseeable future," said Adam Strzembosz, a former Supreme Court chief justice and respected legal authority. "Will it be dominated and completely subservient to a certain political party, with all the consequences of power that is dictatorial in nature? Or will we manage to stop this?"

Divided Poland votes in close presidential run-off

Voting started Sunday in Poland's razor-blade-close presidential election runoff between the conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda and liberal, pro-European Union Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Duda is backed by the ruling right-wing party and the government, as he seeks a second 5-year term. Trzaskowski, a former European Parliament lawmaker, runs for the main opposition Civic Platform party. Both candidates are aged 48.

Latest polls showed that the race may be decided by a very small margin. Amid calls from both sides to some 30 million eligible voters to cast ballots, turnout is expected to be higher than the 64.51% in the first round on June 28. 
In the first round, Duda got 43.5% and Trzaskowski 30.5%.

Voting stations remain open until 9 pm (1900 GMT,) when exit polls will be released. The final official results are expected early in the week.

The outcome of the election will decide the shape of politics in deeply divided Poland at least until 2023, when parliamentary elections are scheduled.

If Duda is reelected, the right-wing Law and Justice party that backs him will continue to have a close ally in the president and maintain its hold on almost all key instruments of power in the country.

Trzaskowski's win would give him the power to veto laws passed by the ruling party. Poland's tone would also be softened on the international arena and especially with the EU.

The voting is held under strict sanitary conditions due to the still spreading coronavirus. Poland registered over 37,000 infections and almost 1,600 deaths.

Voters must wear masks and gloves, maintain a safe distance and use hand sanitiser. They can use their own pens to mark ballots. Election officials must wear masks too and sit wide apart from each other. Ballot boxes will be regularly disinfected and the polling stations will be ventilated.

Voting started Sunday in Poland's razor-blade-close presidential election runoff between the conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda and liberal, pro-European Union Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Voting started Sunday in Poland's razor-blade-close presidential election runoff between the conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda and liberal, pro-European Union Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. Duda is backed by the ruling right-wing party and the government, as he seeks a second 5-year term. Trzaskowski, a former European Parliament lawmaker, runs for the main opposition Civic Platform party. Both candidates are aged 48. Latest polls showed that the race may be decided by a very small margin. Amid calls from both sides to some 30 million eligible voters to cast ballots, turnout is expected to be higher than the 64.51% in the first round on June 28. In the first round, Duda got 43.5% and Trzaskowski 30.5%. Voting stations remain open until 9 pm (1900 GMT,) when exit polls will be released. The final official results are expected early in the week. The outcome of the election will decide the shape of politics in deeply divided Poland at least until 2023, when parliamentary elections are scheduled. If Duda is reelected, the right-wing Law and Justice party that backs him will continue to have a close ally in the president and maintain its hold on almost all key instruments of power in the country. Trzaskowski's win would give him the power to veto laws passed by the ruling party. Poland's tone would also be softened on the international arena and especially with the EU. The voting is held under strict sanitary conditions due to the still spreading coronavirus. Poland registered over 37,000 infections and almost 1,600 deaths. Voters must wear masks and gloves, maintain a safe distance and use hand sanitiser. They can use their own pens to mark ballots. Election officials must wear masks too and sit wide apart from each other. Ballot boxes will be regularly disinfected and the polling stations will be ventilated.

Poland holds momentous, tight presidential election runoff

Poland's President Andrzej Duda, who is running for re-election in the conservative, Catholic EU member, on Saturday said he wanted the constitution to explicitly forbid the adoption of children by same-sex couples.

He said he planned to propose a constitutional amendment on Monday.

The announcement marked the head of state's latest reference to gay rights in the electoral campaign, after he stoked controversy by likening "LGBT ideology" to communism before the first round of the vote last month.&nbsp;

"In Poland's constitution, it should be explicitly stated that anyone in a same-sex relationship is forbidden from adopting a child," Duda said at a campaign event in the southern town of Szczawno-Zdroj.&nbsp;

"To ensure the safety of the child and a proper upbringing, for the Polish state to safeguard the rights of children... I believe such an entry should exist," he added.

Duda, who is from the governing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, said he would sign a presidential draft amendment to the constitution on the matter on Monday and submit it to parliament.

The incumbent and his rival in the run-off next weekend, centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, are currently polling neck to neck, with opinion surveys divided as to who has the edge.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Trzaskowski told reporters that he is also "against same-sex couples adopting children".

"I believe that is the stance of most of the political parties.... On this particular matter I agree with the president," he added in the central city of Kalisz.&nbsp;

Trzaskowski is generally seen as favourable to gay rights. He has said he is open to the idea of civil partnerships between same-sex couples, which are currently banned in Poland.

He also signed an "LGBT+ Declaration" promising to protect gay people when he was elected mayor of Warsaw.&nbsp;

Just nine percent of Poles believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to adopt children, according to a 2019 opinion poll by the CBOS institute. Twenty-nine percent support gay marriage.

Gay rights were also a key issue ahead of Poland's parliamentary elections in October.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda, who is running for re-election in the conservative, Catholic EU member, on Saturday said he wanted the constitution to explicitly forbid the adoption of children by same-sex couples.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda, who is running for re-election in the conservative, Catholic EU member, on Saturday said he wanted the constitution to explicitly forbid the adoption of children by same-sex couples. He said he planned to propose a constitutional amendment on Monday. The announcement marked the head of state's latest reference to gay rights in the electoral campaign, after he stoked controversy by likening "LGBT ideology" to communism before the first round of the vote last month. "In Poland's constitution, it should be explicitly stated that anyone in a same-sex relationship is forbidden from adopting a child," Duda said at a campaign event in the southern town of Szczawno-Zdroj. "To ensure the safety of the child and a proper upbringing, for the Polish state to safeguard the rights of children... I believe such an entry should exist," he added. Duda, who is from the governing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, said he would sign a presidential draft amendment to the constitution on the matter on Monday and submit it to parliament. The incumbent and his rival in the run-off next weekend, centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, are currently polling neck to neck, with opinion surveys divided as to who has the edge. On Saturday, Trzaskowski told reporters that he is also "against same-sex couples adopting children". "I believe that is the stance of most of the political parties.... On this particular matter I agree with the president," he added in the central city of Kalisz. Trzaskowski is generally seen as favourable to gay rights. He has said he is open to the idea of civil partnerships between same-sex couples, which are currently banned in Poland. He also signed an "LGBT+ Declaration" promising to protect gay people when he was elected mayor of Warsaw. Just nine percent of Poles believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to adopt children, according to a 2019 opinion poll by the CBOS institute. Twenty-nine percent support gay marriage. Gay rights were also a key issue ahead of Poland's parliamentary elections in October.

Polish president speaks out against same-sex couple adoptions

The European Union is in the process of finalising the bifurcation of coronavirus recovery funds to be divided among member states.

The funds allocated to one country have stirred a debate. According to sources, Poland is set to receive a major chunk of the recovery fund. Many critics and members of the EU are protesting the allocation, calling for a boycott of Poland for the continuous attacks on the judiciary and the public discourse of LGBTQIA+ community.

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Poland has suffered minimal economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is set to receive a lot of funding from the EU.

Displeasure over distribution

The Guardian reported that a lot of EU members are displeased with the distribution of funds. The European council president Charles Michel has been approached by two prime ministers to rethink and to enforce stricter terms for funding.

The commission had planned a set-up to strip countries of funds in case they continue to promote human rights abuses and segregation. It will now be put to test, seeking a majority.

The European Union and its 27 representatives will meet in Brussels on July 17 to come up with a recovery plan for the European region, given the intensity of the recession, which some have called to be bigger than the Great Depression.

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As part of its goals, the commission will seek €750 billion from international markets. Out of this, €560 billion&nbsp; will be used to resuscitate the economy.

Poland is expected to receive €37 billion, and will make a contribution of €21billion. Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, will receive €81.8 billion net, and will make a contribution of €59 billion. In essence, the country will receive just €22 billion.

Anti-LGBT rhetoric

Poland’s president Andrzej Duda has faced criticism for his comments on the LGBTQIA+ community recently. He recently claimed that the community was part of “foreign attempts” to subvert the traditions and values of Poland.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/11-european-countries-have-shown-significant-virus-resurgence-who-308680" hreflang="en">11 European countries have shown significant virus resurgence: WHO</a>

His party, Law and Justice (PiS) recently declared the country an “LGBT-freezone”, with attempts to muzzle “LGBT ideology”.

The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen recently said that the money should be used to strengthen the poorest member states.

The European Union is in the process of finalising the bifurcation of coronavirus recovery funds to be divided among member states. The funds allocated to one country have stirred a debate.

The European Union is in the process of finalising the bifurcation of coronavirus recovery funds to be divided among member states. The funds allocated to one country have stirred a debate. According to sources, Poland is set to receive a major chunk of the recovery fund. Many critics and members of the EU are protesting the allocation, calling for a boycott of Poland for the continuous attacks on the judiciary and the public discourse of LGBTQIA+ community. Also read: European Union to speed up space ambitions Poland has suffered minimal economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is set to receive a lot of funding from the EU. Displeasure over distribution The Guardian reported that a lot of EU members are displeased with the distribution of funds. The European council president Charles Michel has been approached by two prime ministers to rethink and to enforce stricter terms for funding. The commission had planned a set-up to strip countries of funds in case they continue to promote human rights abuses and segregation. It will now be put to test, seeking a majority. The European Union and its 27 representatives will meet in Brussels on July 17 to come up with a recovery plan for the European region, given the intensity of the recession, which some have called to be bigger than the Great Depression. Also read: 'Britain will have weaker economic ties with EU post Brexit': Angela Merkel As part of its goals, the commission will seek €750 billion from international markets. Out of this, €560 billion will be used to resuscitate the economy. Poland is expected to receive €37 billion, and will make a contribution of €21billion. Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, will receive €81.8 billion net, and will make a contribution of €59 billion. In essence, the country will receive just €22 billion. Anti-LGBT rhetoric Poland’s president Andrzej Duda has faced criticism for his comments on the LGBTQIA+ community recently. He recently claimed that the community was part of “foreign attempts” to subvert the traditions and values of Poland. Also read: 11 European countries have shown significant virus resurgence: WHO His party, Law and Justice (PiS) recently declared the country an “LGBT-freezone”, with attempts to muzzle “LGBT ideology”. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen recently said that the money should be used to strengthen the poorest member states.

EU members displeased over uneven distribution of coronavirus recovery funds

Poland's President&nbsp;Andrzej Duda held a press conference with his US counterpart in Washington. The visit comes few weeks before Polish elections.

While the tour is being critiqued as a failure and an unwanted push to Duda's political campaign, what blindsided the US and its allies was a comment by US President Donald Trump.

When asked about a statement made by his office last week about reducing the number of troops from Germany, Trump quickly told the reporters at the White House “We'll probably be moving them (troops) from Germany to Poland.”

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“They (Poland) asked us if we would send some additional troops. They're going to pay for that. They'll be paying for the sending of additional troops. We will probably be moving them from Germany to Poland,” Trump said.

“We're going to be reducing in Germany very substantially down to about 25,000 troops. We actually had 52,000 but we'll be moving it down to about 25,000,” he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Germany's paying a very small fraction of what they're supposed to be paying. They should be paying two per cent and they're paying a little bit more than one per cent depending on how you calculate. They are paying less than one per cent,” he added.

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Although he has not confirmed if all the troops, who are being redeployed, will be sent to Poland. Trump has sated that some of the troops might come back to their home country, some might go to Europe, but Poland will definitely be a priority.

The resident has also noted that the shift in troops will send a strong signal to Trump.

“A stronger signal sent to Russia is the fact that Germany is paying billions of dollars to purchase energy from Russia through the pipeline... You're giving billions of dollars to Russia, then we're supposed to defend you from Russia? So, I think it's very bad… I think the people of Germany are very unhappy about it,” he said.

However, after sending a "strong signal" to Russia, Trump expects to get along with Russia -- or as Trump said, "We expect to get along with everybody."

The move is being highly appreciated by the Polish President, who quickly flashed a smile and said, "It shows that if anyone wanted to attack Poland, it won't be a soft landing," Duda said. "Because the strongest army in the world is present and they would help us defend our borders."

Poland's President Andrzej Duda held a press conference with his US counterpart in Washington. The visit comes few weeks before Polish elections. While the tour is being critiqued as a failure and an unwanted push to Duda's political campaign, what blindsided the US and its allies was a comment by US President Donald Trump.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda held a press conference with his US counterpart in Washington. The visit comes few weeks before Polish elections. While the tour is being critiqued as a failure and an unwanted push to Duda's political campaign, what blindsided the US and its allies was a comment by US President Donald Trump. When asked about a statement made by his office last week about reducing the number of troops from Germany, Trump quickly told the reporters at the White House “We'll probably be moving them (troops) from Germany to Poland.” Also read: NASA renames Washington headquarters after its first black female engineer “They (Poland) asked us if we would send some additional troops. They're going to pay for that. They'll be paying for the sending of additional troops. We will probably be moving them from Germany to Poland,” Trump said. “We're going to be reducing in Germany very substantially down to about 25,000 troops. We actually had 52,000 but we'll be moving it down to about 25,000,” he said. “Germany's paying a very small fraction of what they're supposed to be paying. They should be paying two per cent and they're paying a little bit more than one per cent depending on how you calculate. They are paying less than one per cent,” he added. Also read: All three men involved in killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery charged with murder Although he has not confirmed if all the troops, who are being redeployed, will be sent to Poland. Trump has sated that some of the troops might come back to their home country, some might go to Europe, but Poland will definitely be a priority. The resident has also noted that the shift in troops will send a strong signal to Trump. “A stronger signal sent to Russia is the fact that Germany is paying billions of dollars to purchase energy from Russia through the pipeline... You're giving billions of dollars to Russia, then we're supposed to defend you from Russia? So, I think it's very bad… I think the people of Germany are very unhappy about it,” he said. However, after sending a "strong signal" to Russia, Trump expects to get along with Russia -- or as Trump said, "We expect to get along with everybody." The move is being highly appreciated by the Polish President, who quickly flashed a smile and said, "It shows that if anyone wanted to attack Poland, it won't be a soft landing," Duda said. "Because the strongest army in the world is present and they would help us defend our borders."

Trump to send troops from Germany to Poland to send signal to Russia

Polish President Andrzej Duda will be hoping for a pre-election windfall from a trip to Washington on Wednesday that risks being overshadowed by the fallout from revelations about Donald Trump's foreign policy.

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The visit from Duda -- a populist closely allied with Trump -- comes a day after the publication of former security advisor John Bolton's tell-all tome and four days before a crucial presidential election in Poland.

It will be Trump's first meeting with a foreign leader since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, and both delegations will be tested for the disease before the talks.

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The central expectation on the Polish side is that Trump will announce extra US military assistance for Poland -- a constant demand from Warsaw, particularly in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The US could boost the number of its troops deployed in Poland as well as provide fighter jets and military transport planes, according to Polish media reports.

But a senior US official cautioned that it would be "premature" to talk about troop deployment in terms of "any specific number to any specific location".

"President Duda will have an opportunity to look very presidential and that's, I think, a big part of this," said Michal Baranowski, director of the Warsaw office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Baranowski said the visit could help "mobilise" Duda's electorate in Sunday's vote and even help boost support for Trump among Polish American communities in swing states ahead of the US election in November.

The hastily arranged visit is expected to be accompanied by protests by gay rights campaigners against Duda, a right-winger who has railed against "LGBT ideology", comparing it to communism.

Duda, who is backed by the governing Law and Justice party, is the current frontrunner in the election but the centrist europhile opposition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski has been catching up in the polls.

Commentator Boguslaw Chrabota, writing in the Rzeczpospolita daily, said Duda was "desperately looking for a triumphant ending" to his campaign but the meeting with Trump carried "considerable risk".

Chrabota cited the risk in promising large amounts of Polish taxpayers' money to pay for US hardware.

In recent years, Poland has agreed to buy US rocket launchers, fighter jets and a Patriot anti-missile system and has closely aligned itself with Trump -- to the consternation of some of its EU and NATO partners.

Rzeczpospolita said there was also concern within the Law and Justice Party that Trump could "make an unpredictable move or comment" that could end up damaging Duda, whose eagerness to oblige Trump has been widely mocked by his opponents in Poland.

Poland will also have to tread carefully following Trump's announcement earlier this month of a large-scale withdrawal of US troops from Germany so as not to be seen to be taking advantage of a NATO ally.

A report in Poland's Dziennik Gazeta Prawna said that 30 US F-16 fighter jets currently based in Germany could be transferred to Poland.

The report also said the US could send up to 2,000 extra troops to Poland and transfer the command of the Fifth US Army Corps from Kentucky to Poland.

NATO promised Russia in 1997 not to set up permanent bases in the former eastern bloc. As tensions have grown however, the alliance has instead rotated troops through front-line countries.

Even though the US troops would still be rotated under any scenario, Polish officials have raised the prospect of a more permanent US presence -- perhaps in a facility paid for by Warsaw dubbed "Fort Trump".

Bolton's book "The Room Where It Happened", which Trump describes as "fiction", mentions one particular White House meeting in which Trump appeared to forget he had agreed in principle to a "Fort Trump".

"Do we really want Fort Trump?" he is quoted as saying.

Polish President Andrzej Duda will be hoping for a pre-election windfall from a trip to Washington on Wednesday that risks being overshadowed by the fallout from revelations about Donald Trump's foreign policy.

Polish President Andrzej Duda will be hoping for a pre-election windfall from a trip to Washington on Wednesday that risks being overshadowed by the fallout from revelations about Donald Trump's foreign policy. Also read: Trump accuses Obama of 'treason' for 'spying', offers no evidence The visit from Duda -- a populist closely allied with Trump -- comes a day after the publication of former security advisor John Bolton's tell-all tome and four days before a crucial presidential election in Poland. It will be Trump's first meeting with a foreign leader since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, and both delegations will be tested for the disease before the talks. Also read: US will increase COVID-19 testing despite Trump's claims of slowing down: Fauci The central expectation on the Polish side is that Trump will announce extra US military assistance for Poland -- a constant demand from Warsaw, particularly in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The US could boost the number of its troops deployed in Poland as well as provide fighter jets and military transport planes, according to Polish media reports. But a senior US official cautioned that it would be "premature" to talk about troop deployment in terms of "any specific number to any specific location". "President Duda will have an opportunity to look very presidential and that's, I think, a big part of this," said Michal Baranowski, director of the Warsaw office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Baranowski said the visit could help "mobilise" Duda's electorate in Sunday's vote and even help boost support for Trump among Polish American communities in swing states ahead of the US election in November. The hastily arranged visit is expected to be accompanied by protests by gay rights campaigners against Duda, a right-winger who has railed against "LGBT ideology", comparing it to communism. Duda, who is backed by the governing Law and Justice party, is the current frontrunner in the election but the centrist europhile opposition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski has been catching up in the polls. Commentator Boguslaw Chrabota, writing in the Rzeczpospolita daily, said Duda was "desperately looking for a triumphant ending" to his campaign but the meeting with Trump carried "considerable risk". Chrabota cited the risk in promising large amounts of Polish taxpayers' money to pay for US hardware. In recent years, Poland has agreed to buy US rocket launchers, fighter jets and a Patriot anti-missile system and has closely aligned itself with Trump -- to the consternation of some of its EU and NATO partners. Rzeczpospolita said there was also concern within the Law and Justice Party that Trump could "make an unpredictable move or comment" that could end up damaging Duda, whose eagerness to oblige Trump has been widely mocked by his opponents in Poland. Poland will also have to tread carefully following Trump's announcement earlier this month of a large-scale withdrawal of US troops from Germany so as not to be seen to be taking advantage of a NATO ally. A report in Poland's Dziennik Gazeta Prawna said that 30 US F-16 fighter jets currently based in Germany could be transferred to Poland. The report also said the US could send up to 2,000 extra troops to Poland and transfer the command of the Fifth US Army Corps from Kentucky to Poland. NATO promised Russia in 1997 not to set up permanent bases in the former eastern bloc. As tensions have grown however, the alliance has instead rotated troops through front-line countries. Even though the US troops would still be rotated under any scenario, Polish officials have raised the prospect of a more permanent US presence -- perhaps in a facility paid for by Warsaw dubbed "Fort Trump". Bolton's book "The Room Where It Happened", which Trump describes as "fiction", mentions one particular White House meeting in which Trump appeared to forget he had agreed in principle to a "Fort Trump". "Do we really want Fort Trump?" he is quoted as saying.

Polish leader Andrzej Duda visits Donald Trump hoping for election boost

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Sunday asked the international media to "stop distributing fake news" after extensive coverage of a campaign speech in which he compared what he called LGBT "ideology" to Soviet-era communist indoctrination.

LGBT rights have become a hot-button issue ahead of a June 28 presidential election in Poland, with Duda arguing that the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights needlessly sexualises children and harms families.

"Yet again, as part of dirty political fight, my words are put out of context. I truly believe in diversity and equality," Duda tweeted in English on Sunday, tagging media organisations including Reuters, the Associated Press and the Financial Times.

He did not say how his remarks had been misrepresented.

"Truth has become a scared little creature," Duda said in a series of English language tweets criticising the international media for their reporting of his speech.

Duda said he wanted to see a world "where we can speak our mind, where words are not twisted. I believe in tolerance to any views, so please stop distributing fake news".

Duda is an ally of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which dismisses LGBT rights as an invasive foreign influence undermining Poland's traditional values.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polish-president-compares-lgbt-ideology-to-soviet-indoctrination-305628">Also read | Polish president compares 'LGBT ideology' to Soviet indoctrination</a>

PiS has attacked Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw who is also the presidential candidate of the main opposition party Civic Platform, for introducing a sexual education programme in the capital designed to include teaching about LGBT issues.

On Saturday, Duda said such teachings were a form of "neo-Bolshevism" in a campaign speech in the southwestern town of Brzeg, saying his parents' generation had not fought communist ideology for decades only for Poland to face a "new ideology (of LGBT rights) that is even more destructive".

The comments were widely reported by the local and international press, including Reuters.

 
&nbsp;

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Sunday asked the international media to "stop distributing fake news" after extensive coverage of a campaign speech in which he compared what he called LGBT "ideology" to Soviet-era communist indoctrination.

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Sunday asked the international media to "stop distributing fake news" after extensive coverage of a campaign speech in which he compared what he called LGBT "ideology" to Soviet-era communist indoctrination. LGBT rights have become a hot-button issue ahead of a June 28 presidential election in Poland, with Duda arguing that the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights needlessly sexualises children and harms families. "Yet again, as part of dirty political fight, my words are put out of context. I truly believe in diversity and equality," Duda tweeted in English on Sunday, tagging media organisations including Reuters, the Associated Press and the Financial Times. He did not say how his remarks had been misrepresented. "Truth has become a scared little creature," Duda said in a series of English language tweets criticising the international media for their reporting of his speech. Duda said he wanted to see a world "where we can speak our mind, where words are not twisted. I believe in tolerance to any views, so please stop distributing fake news". Duda is an ally of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which dismisses LGBT rights as an invasive foreign influence undermining Poland's traditional values. Also read | Polish president compares 'LGBT ideology' to Soviet indoctrination PiS has attacked Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw who is also the presidential candidate of the main opposition party Civic Platform, for introducing a sexual education programme in the capital designed to include teaching about LGBT issues. On Saturday, Duda said such teachings were a form of "neo-Bolshevism" in a campaign speech in the southwestern town of Brzeg, saying his parents' generation had not fought communist ideology for decades only for Poland to face a "new ideology (of LGBT rights) that is even more destructive". The comments were widely reported by the local and international press, including Reuters.

Polish president says foreign media took LGBT comments 'out of context'

Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, compared LGBT "ideology" to communist doctrine in a campaign speech on Saturday. This comes in the wake of a June 28 presidential election in the staunchly Catholic country where LGBT rights become a hotly debated issue.

Duda is an ally of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which dismisses the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights as a foreign influence undermining Poland's traditional values.

Poland is a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and was the first country to shed communism in the region in 1989. This year the country was voted the worst in the European Union for LGBT rights in a poll by Brussels-based NGO ILGA-Europe.

On Wednesday, Duda introduced a "Family Card" of election proposals, including a vow to not allow gay couples to marry or adopt children and to ban teaching about LGBT issues in schools.

"My parents' generation for forty years fought to eliminate communist ideology from schools, so it couldn't be forced on children. So youth, children, soldiers and youth organisations couldn't be indoctrinated," Duda told a rally in the southwestern town of Brzeg.

"They didn't fight for this so that a new ideology would appear that is even more destructive."

Opposition candidates and LGBT rights groups condemned Duda's speech.

Love Does Not Exclude, a Polish rights group, told Reuters Duda's proposals were similar to the Russian government's decision to ban "homosexual propaganda".

The Left's presidential candidate, Robert Biedron, the first Polish politician to openly identify as gay, called on Duda to "be done with this hatred" in a tweet posted after the speech.

Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, compared LGBT "ideology" to communist doctrine in a campaign speech on Saturday. This comes in the wake of a June 28 presidential election in the staunchly Catholic country where LGBT rights become a hotly debated issue.

Poland's President, Andrzej Duda, compared LGBT "ideology" to communist doctrine in a campaign speech on Saturday. This comes in the wake of a June 28 presidential election in the staunchly Catholic country where LGBT rights become a hotly debated issue. Duda is an ally of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which dismisses the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights as a foreign influence undermining Poland's traditional values. Poland is a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and was the first country to shed communism in the region in 1989. This year the country was voted the worst in the European Union for LGBT rights in a poll by Brussels-based NGO ILGA-Europe. On Wednesday, Duda introduced a "Family Card" of election proposals, including a vow to not allow gay couples to marry or adopt children and to ban teaching about LGBT issues in schools. "My parents' generation for forty years fought to eliminate communist ideology from schools, so it couldn't be forced on children. So youth, children, soldiers and youth organisations couldn't be indoctrinated," Duda told a rally in the southwestern town of Brzeg. "They didn't fight for this so that a new ideology would appear that is even more destructive." Opposition candidates and LGBT rights groups condemned Duda's speech. Love Does Not Exclude, a Polish rights group, told Reuters Duda's proposals were similar to the Russian government's decision to ban "homosexual propaganda". The Left's presidential candidate, Robert Biedron, the first Polish politician to openly identify as gay, called on Duda to "be done with this hatred" in a tweet posted after the speech.

Polish president compares 'LGBT ideology' to Soviet indoctrination

Polish President Andrzej Duda has vowed to ban teaching about LGBT issues in the schools on Wednesday as Poland approaches presidential elections, scheduled to be held on June 28.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/do-black-lives-matter-yes-say-siri-alexa-and-google-assistant-305068" hreflang="en">Do black lives matter? Yes, say Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant</a>

Duda called lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) as a "foreign ideology" that undermines the country's traditional values in the strict Catholic nation. He is an ally of the ruling right-wing nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS).&nbsp;

His opponent, Rafal Trzaskowski, is a liberal Warsaw Mayor, of the main centre-right opposition Civic Platform (PO) party. Trzaskowski supported the LGBTQ and introduced it to the education, this drew criticism from religious conservatives.&nbsp;

“Parents are responsible for the sexual education of their children,” Duda told a gathering of supporters. “It is not possible for any institutions to interfere in the way parents raise their children.”

He even said the LGBT couple will not be allowed to adopt. &nbsp;“It’s a foreign ideology. There is no consent for this phenomenon to happen in our country in any way.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda has vowed to ban teaching about LGBT issues in the schools on Wednesday as Poland approaches presidential elections, scheduled to be held on June 28.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has vowed to ban teaching about LGBT issues in the schools on Wednesday as Poland approaches presidential elections, scheduled to be held on June 28. Also read: Do black lives matter? Yes, say Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant Duda called lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) as a "foreign ideology" that undermines the country's traditional values in the strict Catholic nation. He is an ally of the ruling right-wing nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS). His opponent, Rafal Trzaskowski, is a liberal Warsaw Mayor, of the main centre-right opposition Civic Platform (PO) party. Trzaskowski supported the LGBTQ and introduced it to the education, this drew criticism from religious conservatives. “Parents are responsible for the sexual education of their children,” Duda told a gathering of supporters. “It is not possible for any institutions to interfere in the way parents raise their children.” He even said the LGBT couple will not be allowed to adopt. “It’s a foreign ideology. There is no consent for this phenomenon to happen in our country in any way.”

'It's a foreign ideology': Polish president vows to ban LGBT teaching in schools

Police in Warsaw used tear gas on Saturday against protestors demanding the government act faster to allow businesses to reopen following a coronavirus shutdown.

Police uses tear gas at anti-lockdown protesters in Poland

Poland has two weeks to set a new presidential election date, the national electoral commission said after certifying that the poll scheduled for Sunday did not happen.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-president-bolsonaro-rides-jet-ski-amid-coronavirus-chaos-in-the-country-netizens-lash-out-297889" hreflang="en">Brazilian President Bolsonaro rides jet ski amid coronavirus chaos in the country, netizens lash out</a>

Poles had been due to cast their ballots to elect a head of state, but because of a political crisis set off by the coronavirus pandemic, polling stations never opened and turnout clocked in at zero on an election day that will be one for the history books.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-the-time-to-end-lockdown-but-modify-measures-british-prime-minister-boris-johnson-297868" hreflang="en">'Not the time to end lockdown, but modify measures': British Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a>

The EU member of 38 million people found itself in this bizarre "Twilight Zone" predicament in which the presidential ballot had formally neither been postponed nor cancelled, because the government and opposition were unable to agree on a constitutional and safe solution.

At day's end, the electoral commission adopted a resolution stating that it "had not been possible to vote for any candidate" and thus the speaker of parliament now had two weeks to set a new election date, which must fall within 60 days of her announcement.

Such a solution will save the country from having to ask the Supreme Court to rule on the validity of the election that had been scheduled for May 10, commission head Sylwester Marciniak told reporters.&nbsp;

The governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party had anticipated last week that the top court would rule on the issue and had even assumed it would declare the election null and void.

"That sounds like an order for the Supreme Court regarding how it should rule," Warsaw-based political scientist Stanislaw Mocek told AFP at the time.

"We're in a fog of legal absurdity," he added, echoing the widespread head-scratching and concern around the country.

Many constitutional experts have since expressed doubt as to whether the Supreme Court even has the power to issue such a verdict.&nbsp;

Marciniak said that because no votes were cast, "we have a situation similar to when there is an absence of candidates or only one candidate and no election is held."

Leftist lawmaker Tomasz Trela summed up the Kafkaesque situation on Facebook: "Today's the day, election day without the election."

Earlier Sunday, Trela and a fellow leftist politician had shown up with homemade ballots at a school that normally doubles as a polling station and asked why they were unable to vote.

"The polling station is closed, which means someone cancelled the election. But it's unclear who did or on what basis," he told reporters.

The anti-government protest movement Citizens of Poland organised an event in the capital Warsaw, saying Poland needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

"The state is unable to carry out the election scheduled for today. Or the voting or whatever you want to call it, this cabaret that they've arranged for us," movement co-leader Pawel Kasprzak told reporters.

Mocek, the political scientist, said the government "should have declared a natural disaster to lawfully postpone the election" under the constitution.&nbsp;

The PiS has explained away its refusal to do so by saying Poland's coronavirus situation is not severe enough to warrant the move.&nbsp;

The party has also implied that were it to declare a natural disaster, multinational corporations present in Poland would claim huge sums in compensation that the state would be hard-pressed to pay.&nbsp;

But the liberal opposition and many observers also see another rationale for why the government was set on the May 10 date, despite opinion surveys showing that three out of four Poles wanted a deferral.

The opposition, which has long called for a delay over concerns that a free, fair and safe election is impossible under lockdown, believes the PiS wants the ballot held as soon as possible so that its ally and incumbent Andrzej Duda wins.

The president is the frontrunner and could secure a second term in the first round of the vote, but he risks losing support once the economic effects of the pandemic are felt.

Last month, the PiS-controlled parliament passed a law stating the election would be held by postal vote only in a bid to quiet health concerns while maintaining the date.

But the opposition-controlled senate sat on the legislation for weeks before rejecting it, leaving the government no time to organise the election

Poland has two weeks to set a new presidential election date, the national electoral commission said after certifying that the poll scheduled for Sunday did not happen.

Poland has two weeks to set a new presidential election date, the national electoral commission said after certifying that the poll scheduled for Sunday did not happen. Also read: Brazilian President Bolsonaro rides jet ski amid coronavirus chaos in the country, netizens lash out Poles had been due to cast their ballots to elect a head of state, but because of a political crisis set off by the coronavirus pandemic, polling stations never opened and turnout clocked in at zero on an election day that will be one for the history books. Also read: 'Not the time to end lockdown, but modify measures': British Prime Minister Boris Johnson The EU member of 38 million people found itself in this bizarre "Twilight Zone" predicament in which the presidential ballot had formally neither been postponed nor cancelled, because the government and opposition were unable to agree on a constitutional and safe solution. At day's end, the electoral commission adopted a resolution stating that it "had not been possible to vote for any candidate" and thus the speaker of parliament now had two weeks to set a new election date, which must fall within 60 days of her announcement. Such a solution will save the country from having to ask the Supreme Court to rule on the validity of the election that had been scheduled for May 10, commission head Sylwester Marciniak told reporters. The governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party had anticipated last week that the top court would rule on the issue and had even assumed it would declare the election null and void. "That sounds like an order for the Supreme Court regarding how it should rule," Warsaw-based political scientist Stanislaw Mocek told AFP at the time. "We're in a fog of legal absurdity," he added, echoing the widespread head-scratching and concern around the country. Many constitutional experts have since expressed doubt as to whether the Supreme Court even has the power to issue such a verdict. Marciniak said that because no votes were cast, "we have a situation similar to when there is an absence of candidates or only one candidate and no election is held." Leftist lawmaker Tomasz Trela summed up the Kafkaesque situation on Facebook: "Today's the day, election day without the election." Earlier Sunday, Trela and a fellow leftist politician had shown up with homemade ballots at a school that normally doubles as a polling station and asked why they were unable to vote. "The polling station is closed, which means someone cancelled the election. But it's unclear who did or on what basis," he told reporters. The anti-government protest movement Citizens of Poland organised an event in the capital Warsaw, saying Poland needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. "The state is unable to carry out the election scheduled for today. Or the voting or whatever you want to call it, this cabaret that they've arranged for us," movement co-leader Pawel Kasprzak told reporters. Mocek, the political scientist, said the government "should have declared a natural disaster to lawfully postpone the election" under the constitution. The PiS has explained away its refusal to do so by saying Poland's coronavirus situation is not severe enough to warrant the move. The party has also implied that were it to declare a natural disaster, multinational corporations present in Poland would claim huge sums in compensation that the state would be hard-pressed to pay. But the liberal opposition and many observers also see another rationale for why the government was set on the May 10 date, despite opinion surveys showing that three out of four Poles wanted a deferral. The opposition, which has long called for a delay over concerns that a free, fair and safe election is impossible under lockdown, believes the PiS wants the ballot held as soon as possible so that its ally and incumbent Andrzej Duda wins. The president is the frontrunner and could secure a second term in the first round of the vote, but he risks losing support once the economic effects of the pandemic are felt. Last month, the PiS-controlled parliament passed a law stating the election would be held by postal vote only in a bid to quiet health concerns while maintaining the date. But the opposition-controlled senate sat on the legislation for weeks before rejecting it, leaving the government no time to organise the election

Poland to hold new vote after bizarre ghost election

Poland's Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the world's most celebrated composers, died on Sunday at the age of 86, his family said.

Polish composer Penderecki dies at 86 after long illness

Tom Holmes, a 34-year-old British primary school teacher living in Poland, had expected to welcome home his twin babies and wife in Warsaw on Monday (March 16) upon their return from a holiday in Britain. However, they are now stranded in Britain by coronavirus-related travel curbs.

Foreigners’ flight ban leaves British teacher in Poland separated from family

March 12 in history: Series of bomb blasts in Mumbai, Fukushima nuclear tragedy and more!

Seventy-five years after the liberation of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-23-million-people-visited-auschwitz-in-2019-272829">Auschwitz</a>, a dwindling number of elderly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/a-horrific-account-of-the-holocaust-that-executed-jews-276822">Holocaust</a> survivors gathered at the former German Nazi death camp on Monday to honour its more than 1.1 million mostly Jewish victims and to share their alarm over rising antisemitism.

More than 200 survivors came from across the globe to the camp the Nazis built at Oswiecim in then-occupied Poland, to share their testimony as a stark warning amid a recent surge of anti-semitic attacks on both sides of the Atlantic, some of them deadly.

Survivors dressed in blue and white striped caps and scarves symbolic of the uniforms prisoners wore at the camp, passed through its chilling "Arbeit macht Frei" (German for "Work makes you free") black wrought-iron gate.

Watch: A horrific account of the 'Holocaust' that executed jews

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/a-horrific-account-of-the-holocaust-that-executed-jews-276822/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Accompanied by Polish President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-main-opposition-picks-moderate-veteran-for-presidential-vote-268295">Andrzej Duda</a>, they laid floral wreaths by the Death Wall in Auschwitz where the Nazis shot dead thousands of prisoners.

"We want the next generation to know what we went through and that it should never happen again," Auschwitz survivor David Marks, 93, said earlier at the former death camp, his voice breaking with emotion.

Thirty-five members of his immediate and extended family of Romanian Jews were killed in Auschwitz, the largest of Nazi Germany's camps that has come to symbolise the six million European Jews who died in the Holocaust.

From mid-1942 the Nazis systematically deported Jews from all over Europe to six camps -- Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor and Treblinka.

Watch: 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/75th-anniversary-of-liberation-of-auschwitz-camp-273889/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Organisers insist that Monday's memorial ceremony must focus above all on what survivors have to say rather than the bitter political feuds that have tainted the run-up to the anniversary.

"This is about survivors, it's not about politics," Ronald Lauder, head of the World Jewish Congress, told AFP in the Auschwitz camp, now a memorial and state museum run by Poland.

"We see anti-semitism rising now and we don't want their (survivors) past to be their children's future, or their grand children’s future," he added.

Royals, presidents and prime ministers from nearly 60 countries will attend the ceremony, but no top world leaders, some of whom opted instead to attend a high-profile Holocaust forum in Israel last week seen as rivalling the ceremonies in Poland.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-against-polands-plan-to-discipline-judges-274146">Poland</a>'s President Duda boycotted the Jerusalem forum after he was denied the opportunity to speak there while Russian President Vladimir Putin was given the floor, despite having earlier falsely accused Poland of colluding with German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and contributing to the outbreak of World War II.

Duda was to make an address at the Monday ceremony in Auschwitz alongside survivors.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-edit-the-lessons-from-the-holocaust-276197">The lessons from the Holocaust</a>

Allies knew in 1942&nbsp;

While the world only learned the full extent of its horrors after the Soviet Red Army entered the camp on January 27, 1945, the Allies had detailed information about Nazi Germany's genocide against Jews much earlier.

In December 1942, Poland's then London-based government-in-exile forwarded a document, titled "The Mass Extermination of Jews in German Occupied Poland", to the Allies.

The document included detailed accounts of the unfolding Holocaust as witnessed by members of the Polish resistance, but drew disbelief and only muted reactions from the international community.

To inform the Allies, Polish resistance fighters Jan Karski and Witold Pilecki famously risked their lives in separate operations to infiltrate and then escape from Nazi death camps and ghettos in occupied Poland, including Auschwitz.

'Final Solution'

Regarded as exaggeration and Polish war propaganda, "a lot of these reports were simply not believed", renowned Oxford historian Professor Norman Davies said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Despite "strong demands" by the Polish and Jewish resistance for the Allies to bomb the railways leading to Auschwitz and other death camps, "the military's attitude was 'we've got to concentrate on military targets, not on civilian things'", said Davies.

"One of the targets that the (British) military did bomb was a synthetic fuel factory near Auschwitz" in 1943-44, he added.

Although Allied warplanes flew over the death camp itself, no orders were given to bomb it.

"It was one of the biggest crimes committed by those that were indifferent because they (the Allies) knew what was happening here, they could have done something about it and they deliberately didn't," Auschwitz survivor David Lenga, 93, told AFP, standing next to a barbed-wire fence inside the former camp.

"People of this world need to be educated about the consequences when they become indifferent to evil; if you let evil raise its ugly head, this (the Holocaust) is exactly what is going to happen," said Lenga, a Polish Jew who now lives in California.

Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest of all Nazi death and concentration camps and the one where most people were killed, primarily European Jews, but also Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and Poles.

Operated by the Nazis from 1940 until 1945, Auschwitz was part of a vast network of camps across Europe set up for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-hitlers-watercolors-grabs-media-bidders-attention-192665">Hitler</a>'s "Final Solution" of genocide against the estimated 10 million Jews in Europe.

Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz, a dwindling number of elderly Holocaust survivors gathered at the former German Nazi death camp on Monday to honour its more than 1.

Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz, a dwindling number of elderly Holocaust survivors gathered at the former German Nazi death camp on Monday to honour its more than 1.1 million mostly Jewish victims and to share their alarm over rising antisemitism. More than 200 survivors came from across the globe to the camp the Nazis built at Oswiecim in then-occupied Poland, to share their testimony as a stark warning amid a recent surge of anti-semitic attacks on both sides of the Atlantic, some of them deadly. Survivors dressed in blue and white striped caps and scarves symbolic of the uniforms prisoners wore at the camp, passed through its chilling "Arbeit macht Frei" (German for "Work makes you free") black wrought-iron gate. Watch: A horrific account of the 'Holocaust' that executed jews Accompanied by Polish President Andrzej Duda, they laid floral wreaths by the Death Wall in Auschwitz where the Nazis shot dead thousands of prisoners. "We want the next generation to know what we went through and that it should never happen again," Auschwitz survivor David Marks, 93, said earlier at the former death camp, his voice breaking with emotion. Thirty-five members of his immediate and extended family of Romanian Jews were killed in Auschwitz, the largest of Nazi Germany's camps that has come to symbolise the six million European Jews who died in the Holocaust. From mid-1942 the Nazis systematically deported Jews from all over Europe to six camps -- Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor and Treblinka. Watch: 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Organisers insist that Monday's memorial ceremony must focus above all on what survivors have to say rather than the bitter political feuds that have tainted the run-up to the anniversary. "This is about survivors, it's not about politics," Ronald Lauder, head of the World Jewish Congress, told AFP in the Auschwitz camp, now a memorial and state museum run by Poland. "We see anti-semitism rising now and we don't want their (survivors) past to be their children's future, or their grand children’s future," he added. Royals, presidents and prime ministers from nearly 60 countries will attend the ceremony, but no top world leaders, some of whom opted instead to attend a high-profile Holocaust forum in Israel last week seen as rivalling the ceremonies in Poland. Poland's President Duda boycotted the Jerusalem forum after he was denied the opportunity to speak there while Russian President Vladimir Putin was given the floor, despite having earlier falsely accused Poland of colluding with German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and contributing to the outbreak of World War II. Duda was to make an address at the Monday ceremony in Auschwitz alongside survivors. Also read: The lessons from the Holocaust Allies knew in 1942 While the world only learned the full extent of its horrors after the Soviet Red Army entered the camp on January 27, 1945, the Allies had detailed information about Nazi Germany's genocide against Jews much earlier. In December 1942, Poland's then London-based government-in-exile forwarded a document, titled "The Mass Extermination of Jews in German Occupied Poland", to the Allies. The document included detailed accounts of the unfolding Holocaust as witnessed by members of the Polish resistance, but drew disbelief and only muted reactions from the international community. To inform the Allies, Polish resistance fighters Jan Karski and Witold Pilecki famously risked their lives in separate operations to infiltrate and then escape from Nazi death camps and ghettos in occupied Poland, including Auschwitz. 'Final Solution' Regarded as exaggeration and Polish war propaganda, "a lot of these reports were simply not believed", renowned Oxford historian Professor Norman Davies said. Despite "strong demands" by the Polish and Jewish resistance for the Allies to bomb the railways leading to Auschwitz and other death camps, "the military's attitude was 'we've got to concentrate on military targets, not on civilian things'", said Davies. "One of the targets that the (British) military did bomb was a synthetic fuel factory near Auschwitz" in 1943-44, he added. Although Allied warplanes flew over the death camp itself, no orders were given to bomb it. "It was one of the biggest crimes committed by those that were indifferent because they (the Allies) knew what was happening here, they could have done something about it and they deliberately didn't," Auschwitz survivor David Lenga, 93, told AFP, standing next to a barbed-wire fence inside the former camp. "People of this world need to be educated about the consequences when they become indifferent to evil; if you let evil raise its ugly head, this (the Holocaust) is exactly what is going to happen," said Lenga, a Polish Jew who now lives in California. Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest of all Nazi death and concentration camps and the one where most people were killed, primarily European Jews, but also Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and Poles. Operated by the Nazis from 1940 until 1945, Auschwitz was part of a vast network of camps across Europe set up for Hitler's "Final Solution" of genocide against the estimated 10 million Jews in Europe.

75 years after liberation, Auschwitz survivors return to Nazi death camp

Thousands&nbsp;of people, including&nbsp;judges&nbsp;and lawyers from many <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-urges-member-states-to-step-up-preparations-in-case-brexit-talks-fail-152932">EU member</a> states, marched through Warsaw on Saturday to&nbsp;protest&nbsp;against&nbsp;what they say are government attempts to curb the powers of the judiciary in Poland.

Last month&nbsp;Poland's&nbsp;lower house of parliament approved a draft law that would allow&nbsp;judges&nbsp;who question the government's reforms to be&nbsp;disciplined.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-commission-could-slap-3-billion-euro-fine-on-italy-for-excessive-debt-deputy-pm-salvini-222359">European Commission</a> has said the&nbsp;planned legislation would imperil the rule of law, deepening a standoff with the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

<img alt="Poland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="074ac4f8-ea55-428c-9c28-ce3e284197fa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_16.jpg" />

In 2017 the European Parliament invoked Article 7 of its governing treaty&nbsp;against&nbsp;Poland for persistently flouting democratic rules, the first time it had used the procedure.

The latest legislation was drawn up after some&nbsp;judges&nbsp;questioned the independence of peers nominated by a panel set up by the PiS-dominated parliament after nationalists won the 2015 elections.

PiS says the new law is necessary to make the judiciary more efficient.

But critics say it will curb the&nbsp;judges' independence, putting pressure on them to rule in favour of government policies.&nbsp;Poland's&nbsp;Supreme Court said in December Warsaw could end up leaving the EU over the dispute.

Saturday's&nbsp;protest, tagged as "1,000 Robes March", was headed by a group of&nbsp;judges&nbsp;wearing robes and carrying banners that read "The right to independence" and "The right to Europe".

<img alt="Poland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f93d813a-e0a0-40b9-8fd2-ec246e15e77e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_15.jpg" />

"It is not usual for us to go out in robes to&nbsp;protest&nbsp;against&nbsp;depriving people of their right to courts," said Krystian Markiewicz, President of the Polish&nbsp;Judges&nbsp;Association Iustitia, one of the march organisers.

"We are doing this for the citizens."

Judges&nbsp;from 22 European countries, including Germany, France, and Spain, participated in the&nbsp;protest, Iustitia said.

The march started in front of the Supreme Court, passed the president's office and ended at the parliament building to symbolise the principle of separation of powers, which the organisers say is now under threat.

"The situation is very serious, at least in our judgment, and that's why we are here," Jose Igreja Matos, President of the European Association of&nbsp;Judges, told Reuters.

A government spokesman told Reuters: "We believe that the bills that are being adopted in Poland regulate the stability of the legal system."

Ahead of the march, a PiS spokesman was quoted by private broadcaster TVN24 as saying that&nbsp;judges&nbsp;should not get involved in politics.

"We've come here to support Polish&nbsp;judges. We are here for the rule of law, not for politics," John MacMenamin, a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, told a press conference ahead of the&nbsp;protest.

The upper house of parliament where the opposition has a slim majority could reject the draft legislation, but the PiS-controlled lower house would still have the power to overturn any changes.

Thousands of people, including judges and lawyers from many EU member states, marched through Warsaw on Saturday to protest against what they say are government attempts to curb the powers of the judiciary in Poland.

Thousands of people, including judges and lawyers from many EU member states, marched through Warsaw on Saturday to protest against what they say are government attempts to curb the powers of the judiciary in Poland. Last month Poland's lower house of parliament approved a draft law that would allow judges who question the government's reforms to be disciplined. The European Commission has said the planned legislation would imperil the rule of law, deepening a standoff with the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. In 2017 the European Parliament invoked Article 7 of its governing treaty against Poland for persistently flouting democratic rules, the first time it had used the procedure. The latest legislation was drawn up after some judges questioned the independence of peers nominated by a panel set up by the PiS-dominated parliament after nationalists won the 2015 elections. PiS says the new law is necessary to make the judiciary more efficient. But critics say it will curb the judges' independence, putting pressure on them to rule in favour of government policies. Poland's Supreme Court said in December Warsaw could end up leaving the EU over the dispute. Saturday's protest, tagged as "1,000 Robes March", was headed by a group of judges wearing robes and carrying banners that read "The right to independence" and "The right to Europe". "It is not usual for us to go out in robes to protest against depriving people of their right to courts," said Krystian Markiewicz, President of the Polish Judges Association Iustitia, one of the march organisers. "We are doing this for the citizens." Judges from 22 European countries, including Germany, France, and Spain, participated in the protest, Iustitia said. The march started in front of the Supreme Court, passed the president's office and ended at the parliament building to symbolise the principle of separation of powers, which the organisers say is now under threat. "The situation is very serious, at least in our judgment, and that's why we are here," Jose Igreja Matos, President of the European Association of Judges, told Reuters. A government spokesman told Reuters: "We believe that the bills that are being adopted in Poland regulate the stability of the legal system." Ahead of the march, a PiS spokesman was quoted by private broadcaster TVN24 as saying that judges should not get involved in politics. "We've come here to support Polish judges. We are here for the rule of law, not for politics," John MacMenamin, a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, told a press conference ahead of the protest. The upper house of parliament where the opposition has a slim majority could reject the draft legislation, but the PiS-controlled lower house would still have the power to overturn any changes.

Thousands protest against Poland's plan to discipline judges

Bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;has been detected in&nbsp;turkeys in eastern&nbsp;Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;could require up to 40,000&nbsp;birds to be slaughtered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-putin-has-lied-about-poland-on-numerous-occasions-pm-mateusz-morawiecki-271197">Poland</a>, Europe's largest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-lifts-restrictions-on-us-poultry-meat-imports-customs-262130">poultry</a> producer according to data from Eurostat, has not had an&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;of&nbsp;bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;since 2017.

Andrzej Danielak, president of Polish Association of Breeders and Poultry Producers, said that three&nbsp;farms&nbsp;might be affected, with up to 350,000&nbsp;birds at risk in a three-kilometre radius.

"Veterinary services are implementing virus eradication procedures in this situation," local authorities in Lubartowski county said in a press release issued on Tuesday, adding that the virus was a subtype of highly pathogenic H5N8&nbsp;bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;that can also threaten people

The authorities said crisis meetings had been held, while footage from private broadcaster Polsat showed police cars blocking a road in the area.

Bird flu has been detected in turkeys in eastern Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the outbreak could require up to 40,000 birds to be slaughtered.

Bird flu has been detected in turkeys in eastern Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the outbreak could require up to 40,000 birds to be slaughtered. Poland, Europe's largest poultry producer according to data from Eurostat, has not had an outbreak of bird flu since 2017. Andrzej Danielak, president of Polish Association of Breeders and Poultry Producers, said that three farms might be affected, with up to 350,000 birds at risk in a three-kilometre radius. "Veterinary services are implementing virus eradication procedures in this situation," local authorities in Lubartowski county said in a press release issued on Tuesday, adding that the virus was a subtype of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu that can also threaten people The authorities said crisis meetings had been held, while footage from private broadcaster Polsat showed police cars blocking a road in the area.

Poland hit by bird flu outbreak on turkey farms

Unrest In Poland Over New Law That Stifles The Judiciary These are times when a single law can shake the fundamentals of a country. #Gravitas #WION #Poland #PolandControversialbill

Gravitas: Poland's Controversial New Law

The European Union has accused the ruling<a href="Poland's ruling nationalists signalled on Thursday they plan to water down legislation allowing for judges to be disciplined for questioning judicial reforms, in an apparent attempt to ease a dispute between Brussels and Warsaw over democratic standards. The European Union has accused the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party of politicising the judiciary ever since it came to power in 2015. PiS argues that the reforms are necessary to make Poland's courts more efficient. The nationalist government has introduced draft legislation providing for the disciplining of judges who have questioned the independence of peers nominated by a panel set up under new rules drawn up by the PiS-dominated parliament. The EU's top court said last month it was up to Poland's Supreme Court to decide whether the panel was independent, and the Supreme Court has ruled that in its view the panel was neither impartial nor independent. One of PiS's smaller partners, Porozumienie, which depicts itself as a pro-business party, has since come under opposition pressure to partially block the reform. Porozumienie recently impeded another reform planned by the PiS. On Thursday state news agency PAP quoted Porozumienie head Jaroslaw Gowin as saying that ruling politicians would adopt amendments to the bill aimed at removing its two most criticized parts. These are disciplinary measures against judges questioning legitimacy of their peers appointed by the new panel, and a part of the bill that forced judges to reveal the names of social media accounts they use under pseudonyms. &quot;There's an agreement ... amendments (to the proposed bill) will be adopted,&quot; Gowin was quoted as saying by PAP. On Wednesday thousands of people poured onto the streets to protest against what they saw as an attempt by PiS to further browbeat judges. On Thursday the lower house of parliament started the debate on the judicial reforms. PiS, which won a second term in October, says it will continue the reforms to try to rid the judiciary of communist leftovers, despi"> Law and Justice (PiS) party</a> of politicising the judiciary ever since it came to power in 2015. PiS argues that the reforms are necessary to make Poland's courts more efficient.

The nationalist government has introduced draft legislation providing for the disciplining of judges who have questioned the independence of peers nominated by a panel set up under new rules drawn up by the PiS-dominated parliament.

The EU's top court said last month it was up to Poland's Supreme Court to decide whether the panel was independent, and the Supreme Court has ruled that in its view the panel was neither impartial nor independent.

One of PiS's smaller partners, Porozumienie, which depicts itself as a pro-business party, has since come under opposition pressure to partially block the reform. Porozumienie recently impeded another reform planned by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-main-opposition-picks-moderate-veteran-for-presidential-vote-268295">PiS</a>.

On Thursday state news agency PAP quoted Porozumienie head, Jaroslaw Gowin, as saying that ruling politicians would adopt amendments to the bill aimed at removing its two most criticized parts.

These are disciplinary measures against judges questioning the legitimacy of their peers appointed by the new panel, and a part of the bill that forced judges to reveal the names of social media accounts they use under pseudonyms.

"There's an agreement ... amendments (to the proposed bill) will be adopted," Gowin was quoted as saying by PAP.

On Wednesday thousands of people poured onto the streets to protest against what they saw as an attempt by PiS to further browbeat judges. On Thursday the lower house of parliament started the debate on the judicial reforms.

PiS, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-ruling-nationalists-win-majority-in-parliament-255794">won a second term</a> in October, says it will continue the reforms to try to rid the judiciary of communist leftovers, despite EU criticism over adherence to the rule of law and threats to cut off vital EU funding.

During the parliamentary debate, opposition parties accused the PiS of using the new legislation as a tool to intimidate judges so they rule in line with the party's expectations.

"The real reason is your panic attempt to escape accountability. You know that the time of your defeat is coming and you will be held accountable at Polish courts for all your scandals," opposition MP Borys Budka told deputies.

The European Union has accused the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party of politicising the judiciary ever since it came to power in 2015. PiS argues that the reforms are necessary to make Poland's courts more efficient.

The European Union has accused the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party of politicising the judiciary ever since it came to power in 2015. PiS argues that the reforms are necessary to make Poland's courts more efficient. The nationalist government has introduced draft legislation providing for the disciplining of judges who have questioned the independence of peers nominated by a panel set up under new rules drawn up by the PiS-dominated parliament. The EU's top court said last month it was up to Poland's Supreme Court to decide whether the panel was independent, and the Supreme Court has ruled that in its view the panel was neither impartial nor independent. One of PiS's smaller partners, Porozumienie, which depicts itself as a pro-business party, has since come under opposition pressure to partially block the reform. Porozumienie recently impeded another reform planned by the PiS. On Thursday state news agency PAP quoted Porozumienie head, Jaroslaw Gowin, as saying that ruling politicians would adopt amendments to the bill aimed at removing its two most criticized parts. These are disciplinary measures against judges questioning the legitimacy of their peers appointed by the new panel, and a part of the bill that forced judges to reveal the names of social media accounts they use under pseudonyms. "There's an agreement ... amendments (to the proposed bill) will be adopted," Gowin was quoted as saying by PAP. On Wednesday thousands of people poured onto the streets to protest against what they saw as an attempt by PiS to further browbeat judges. On Thursday the lower house of parliament started the debate on the judicial reforms. PiS, which won a second term in October, says it will continue the reforms to try to rid the judiciary of communist leftovers, despite EU criticism over adherence to the rule of law and threats to cut off vital EU funding. During the parliamentary debate, opposition parties accused the PiS of using the new legislation as a tool to intimidate judges so they rule in line with the party's expectations. "The real reason is your panic attempt to escape accountability. You know that the time of your defeat is coming and you will be held accountable at Polish courts for all your scandals," opposition MP Borys Budka told deputies.

Poland's ruling nationalists signal they could weaken court reforms

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