The politics thread.

[Fenway Frank]

Gherkins.....

 

[Fen Canary]

Well. I didn't have an EU backed political coup in Poland on my bingo card tonight...

Whilst I’m no fan of the EU and voted to leave it, I’m not sure it’s as simple as blaming the EU for Polands current predicament.
From what I’ve read it appears two judges appointed by the previous government were using legal shenanigans to block the current elected governments choices to sit on the courts, with the government then responding by using some obscure EU rulings to remove those judges friendly with the previous regime.
To me it looks to be a problem with giving too much power to the judiciary and allowing it to block the wishes of the elected government (on top of that having a politicised one that is friendly to certain regimes and hostile to others) coupled with Byzantine EU laws which are often vague and open to interpretation rather than a coup

 

[PukkiParty]

I think there will have to be a lot of tactical voting at the next election

This will apply on both ends of the spectrum though. The Lib Dems will lose a lot of seats.

Can tell that Heaney is holding on to the tax threshold and student loan threshold cards for a budget closer to the General Election as well and will spin at as being possible due to Labours excellent management of the economy lol

 

[morty]

Whilst I’m no fan of the EU and voted to leave it, I’m not sure it’s as simple as blaming the EU for Polands current predicament.
From what I’ve read it appears two judges appointed by the previous government were using legal shenanigans to block the current elected governments choices to sit on the courts, with the government then responding by using some obscure EU rulings to remove those judges friendly with the previous regime.
To me it looks to be a problem with giving too much power to the judiciary and allowing it to block the wishes of the elected government (on top of that having a politicised one that is friendly to certain regimes and hostile to others) coupled with Byzantine EU laws which are often vague and open to interpretation rather than a coup

I don't think it is any kind of secret that Tusk is a fan of the EU, he also knows that it is very likley he is going to lose the next elections. For me it boils down to the question as to what law has primacy, EU or Polish., and what Tusk would rather have. Poland defies the EU constantly, which I don't think Tusk likes. And yes, I agree, any system that politicises judges is ridiculous.

 

[Fen Canary]

I don't think it is any kind of secret that Tusk is a fan of the EU, he also knows that it is very likley he is going to lose the next elections. For me it boils down to the question as to what law has primacy, EU or Polish., and what Tusk would rather have. Poland defies the EU constantly, which I don't think Tusk likes. And yes, I agree, any system that politicises judges is ridiculous.

Tusk was elected on a fairly pro EU ticket though, so a majority of Poles were seemingly happy with that arrangement. I’m not going to pretend I know enough about the intricacies of the Polish judicial system to make a judgement of who is definitively in the wrong, however from the outside looking in it appears both sides are bending the rules and going against the spirit they were written in order to thwart their opponents. It’s become a battle of interpretation rather than either side attempting to win a democratic mandate

 

[morty]

Tusk was elected on a fairly pro EU ticket though, so a majority of Poles were seemingly happy with that arrangement. I’m not going to pretend I know enough about the intricacies of the Polish judicial system to make a judgement of who is definitively in the wrong, however from the outside looking in it appears both sides are bending the rules and going against the spirit they were written in order to thwart their opponents. It’s become a battle of interpretation rather than either side attempting to win a democratic mandate

I think Poland have been very clever at using the EU and their money, especially regarding regeneration after the fall of the iron curtain, whilst at the same time trying to keep them at arms length, especially regarding immigration. I would not be surprised at all to see them leave the EU in the next few years. There has also been a weird little side game going on where the EU were telling Poland that it was likley Russia could attack them, not sure if this is somehow entangled in what is going on.

I think the Polish people are, perhaps, waking up to the fact that they don't really need the EU any more.

 

[Fen Canary]

I think Poland have been very clever at using the EU and their money, especially regarding regeneration after the fall of the iron curtain, whilst at the same time trying to keep them at arms length, especially regarding immigration. I would not be surprised at all to see them leave the EU in the next few years. There has also been a weird little side game going on where the EU were telling Poland that it was likley Russia could attack them, not sure if this is somehow entangled in what is going on.

I think the Polish people are, perhaps, waking up to the fact that they don't really need the EU any more.

I agree, the Poles have benefited massively from the EU and as far as I know are still beneficiaries of it. Whether their attitude towards it changes when they become contributors I’ve no idea. It will be an interesting watch nonetheless