EU, OSCE and Polish electoral commission express concern about Presidential election during Covid-19
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Representatives of the European Commission and OSCE have expressed concern at the Polish government’s plans to press ahead with presidential elections scheduled in May amid the coronavirus epidemic, warning that they may not meet international standards.
Meanwhile, Poland’s own electoral commission has also voiced its doubts over whether last-minute changes to introduce universal postal voting, as well restrictions on campaigning amid an epidemic, can allow for fair, democratic elections.
On the FT we read “that while Europe is on lockdown, and politicians everywhere are focused on one thing: battling Covid-19, in Poland, the biggest issue is whether to proceed with presidential elections on May 10.”
“The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is determined it should go ahead. Opposition parties, some members of PiS’s junior coalition partner, and three quarters of the public, are opposed. The government has already pushed through changes to the electoral code allowing those quarantined or over 60 to vote by post. Last week, PiS also bowed to the dangers of forcing voters out to the polls and decided that the entire election should be conducted by post. This unnecessary folly says much about PiS’s political expediency and its disdain for democratic norms.
France was the last European country to hold nationwide elections — a day before it locked down. The vote was criticised for accelerating the spread of the virus; the second round was postponed. Serbia, Romania and North Macedonia have pushed back elections. Even Russia delayed its referendum on President Vladimir Putin’s extended mandate. So why not Poland? A compliant president, willing to rubber stamp its unconstitutional moves, is essential to PiS’ mode of government. The PiS incumbent, President Andrzej Duda, leads the polls. But PiS worries that a poorly funded health service will crack and Mr Duda will pay the price. Health workers have already been told not to speak publicly about hospital conditions. Hard times lie ahead. So the vote must go on.
