For future of Europe - election in Poland and Romania
This Sunday (18th May), the presidential elections will take place in two countries: 馃嚪馃嚧 Romania (2nd round) and 馃嚨馃嚤 Poland (1st round).
While the president's powers in both countries are limited, these election are very important for Europe's future and democracy.
Romanian election are especially important: pro-European candidate Nicu葯or Dan will directly run against far-right candidate It is crucial for European security, democracy and future for Romania to stay in democracy. The elections are being held in an atmosphere of political crisis, resulting from the repetition of the December elections and the exclusion of the far-right Russia-backed candidate Georgescu. The decision itself, although correct, was badly communicated by the political elites, who bear responsibility for allowing the crisis to happen. Far right and anti-European forces in Romania are supported by Russia, but in recent months also by the USA administration. But Romanians showed their resilience against anti-democratic candidates in elections in 1999 and 2014, and we believe they will do it once again. Though he is of course not candidate of our dreams, we fully support Nicu葯or Dan in these elections.
In Poland, the situation is more stable: the democratic and pro-European parties and movements have several candidates in the first round, and the favourite, Rafa艂 Trzaskowski, comes from the ruling democratic coalition. However, the campaign showed the normalisation of populist and chauvinistic rhetoric, used more and more often by the main parties, including PO-EPP that PM and probably next president come from. There were also the russia-backed candidates who will not receive significant results, but used the elections to undermine the trust in the democratic process and institutions, as well as to spread the propaganda. We wish the best of luck to the progressive candidates, so the election results can be a showcase of revitalised pluralistic democracy in Poland and a good starting point for the progressive movements.
Go vote, Romania and Poland!
