Poland
Polish high school students strike to demand end to in-person classes
By Clara Weiss, 14 October 2020
Schools have become the main vector for the second wave of the pandemic, with at least two teachers and one 20-year-old student dying over the past week alone.
Rattled by crisis, US-aligned Polish government steps up intervention in Belarus
By Clara Weiss, 27 August 2020
Warsaw is attempting to bolster the EU-backed opposition in Belarus, as the Belarusian president turns to the Kremlin in response to the strikes and mass protests against his government.
International media and politicians silent on anti-Semitism in Polish elections
By Clara Weiss, 24 July 2020
The central role of anti-Semitism in the official campaign of the ruling PiS has no precedent in Poland since the end of the Nazi occupation in World War II.
Duda wins Polish presidential election after campaign attacking Jews, LGBTQ rights and Germans
By Clara Weiss, 14 July 2020
The fact that Duda and PiS could carry the day in the most right-wing election campaign in recent Polish history is above all the result of the policies of the liberal opposition.
Polish president fails to secure absolute majority in first round of elections
By Clara Weiss, 29 June 2020
The result is universally seen as a defeat for Duda and PiS.
Coronavirus pandemic in Poland: Silesian miners sacrificed for profit
By Bartosz Wyspianski and Martin Nowak, 16 June 2020
Nearly every day, almost half of the new infections in Poland can be found in Silesia.
Polish government forced to call off presidential elections at last minute
By Clara Weiss, 12 May 2020
Polish media reports suggest that panic and chaos now reign in Warsaw.
Union seeks to block strike as Polish Amazon workers contract COVID-19
By Clara Weiss, 13 April 2020
The union seeks to prevent a strike under conditions where the coronavirus pandemic is starkly exposing the devastating consequences of the restoration of capitalism.
Polish government insists on holding presidential elections in May despite coronavirus lockdown
By Clara Weiss, 3 April 2020
In polls taken last week, 73 percent opposed holding the elections as planned.
Poland, Czech Republic close borders, shut down public life due to coronavirus
By Clara Weiss, 14 March 2020
Three decades after the restoration of capitalism and endless austerity, the health care system in Poland and the Czech Republic, as across all of Europe, is in a devastating condition.
With 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus, Polish hospitals teeter on the brink of collapse
By Clara Weiss, 10 March 2020
The breakdown of the Polish health care system is a direct result of the restoration of capitalism and decades of social cuts in which all bourgeois parties have been complicit.
Coronavirus spreads to Poland, threatening to upend presidential elections
By Clara Weiss, 7 March 2020
The conservative Rzeczpospolita has warned that “chaos in the health care system could upend Polish politics and impact the outcome of the presidential elections in May.”
Cabin crew trade union agrees to job cuts as Polish airline LOT to take over Germany’s Condor
By Marianne Arens, 5 February 2020
The takeover will result in increased workloads for a reduced number of workers after the unions accepted 170 administrative job cuts and the elimination of 150 fulltime cabin crew positions.
Auschwitz liberation commemorated in Poland amid state-led campaign for historical revisionism and war
By Clara Weiss, 28 January 2020
Duda’s and Steinmeier’s condemnations of fascism and anti-Semitism stands in stark contrast to the political record of their own governments.
Poland: Law and Justice Party wins second term in office, loses majority in the Senate
By Clara Weiss, 16 October 2019
The far-right party has been able to exploit the liberal opposition’s de facto collaboration in stifling workers’ opposition.
Trump and Polish President Duda agree on stationing 1,000 US troops in Poland
By Clara Weiss, 14 June 2019
The meeting of the two presidents marked a significant escalation of the US- and NATO-led military-build up against Russia.
In naked sellout, union announces end to strike by 300,000 Polish teachers
By Will Morrow and Clara Weiss, 27 April 2019
The union is covering up the fact that it is ending the strike without meeting any of the teachers’ demands by claiming the strike is being “suspended.”
As union seeks to end walkout
Polish teachers speak out on why they are striking
By Will Morrow, 25 April 2019
The main teachers’ union has called for the suspension of the powerful strike to allow students to complete their exams.
Unions scramble to contain Polish teachers’ strike as 40,000 social workers prepare to stop work
By Clara Weiss, 24 April 2019
The teachers’ strike, the first nationwide walkout since 1993, is one of the largest strikes since the restoration of capitalism in Poland in 1989.
Polish government vows to fight wage rises as teachers’ strike enters second week
By Clara Weiss, 17 April 2019
Both the Polish government and the ZNP union are trying to isolate the national teachers’ strike and keep it from sparking a broader movement of the working class.
National strike by Polish teachers enters fifth day
By Clara Weiss, 12 April 2019
The vast majority of Polish teachers remain on strike as the government refuses to make any concessions.
The resurgence of the class struggle in Poland
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 11 April 2019
Thirty years after General Wojciech Jaruzelski’s Stalinist regime began to collapse, paving the way for capitalist restoration, Polish teachers are mounting a national strike.
Polish teachers strike confronts social disaster wrought by capitalist restoration
By Clara Weiss and Jerry White, 10 April 2019
Hundreds of thousands of educators are continuing their strike against Poland’s extreme right-wing government and its policies of austerity and social reaction.
Polish teachers launch nationwide strike
By Clara Weiss, 9 April 2019
Over 86 percent of the country’s 400,000 teachers have joined the first nationwide strike of teachers in Poland in 25 years.
Anti-Semitic propaganda distributed at Polish parliament as government witch-hunts Holocaust historians
By Clara Weiss, 16 March 2019
The Polish government is engaged in an unprecedented witch-hunt of historians of the Holocaust and promotion of anti-Semitism.
Fascists march in Auschwitz
By Clara Weiss, 31 January 2019
The sight of a rabble of Nazi trash desecrating the memory of those who perished in Auschwitz is sickening and must be answered. But the response must be informed by an understanding of the inextricable link between capitalism, the crisis of bourgeois democracy and fascist reaction.
Who Will Write Our History: Emanuel Ringelblum and the Warsaw Ghetto archive on the screen
By Clara Weiss, 24 January 2019
Roberta Grossman’s film is an important contribution to a wider discussion about the significance of historical truth in the struggle against fascism.
Gdańsk mayor and opposition politician Paweł Adamowicz brutally assassinated
By Clara Weiss, 17 January 2019
Political responsibility for the assassination lies squarely with the ruling right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), which has promoted far-right forces and sentiments for years.
Polish government officials march with the far-right
By Clara Weiss, 13 November 2018
The open alignment of the Polish government with fascist forces is symptomatic of the extreme shift to the right of the European ruling class.
Polish regional elections point to growing political instability
By Clara Weiss, 25 October 2018
The election results in Poland point to growing disillusionment with the right-wing PiS party and hostility toward the main parties of the pro-EU opposition.
As Jeff Bezos’ wealth reaches $150 billion
Unions strangle strike efforts by European Amazon workers on Prime Day
By Will Morrow and Genevieve Leigh, 17 July 2018
Prime Day is treated as a virtual public holiday by the corporate media, akin to Black Friday, but it is synonymous with increased exploitation for Amazon and other shipping workers.
Conflict between Polish government and opposition escalates over Supreme Court
By Clara Weiss, 7 July 2018
Behind the conflict between PiS and the liberal opposition are divisions within the bourgeoisie over the direction of foreign policy and how to divert and suppress social resistance.
Oppose the repression of Polish socialists!
the WSWS Editorial Board, 18 May 2018
The WSWS condemns the Polish government’s repressive acts against the socialist Władza Rad website and other authoritarian measures targeting left-wing opposition.
US sells Poland Patriot anti-missile system amid continued campaign against Russia
By Bill Van Auken, 29 March 2018
The sale represents a direct military provocation, escalating tensions provoked by unsubstantiated allegations surrounding the Skripal poisoning in the UK.
Polish president signs bill censoring free speech about the Holocaust
By Clara Weiss, 7 February 2018
The action will have a “chilling effect” on all forms of political speech and scientific research opposed by the ultra-right Polish authorities.
Polish government seeks to criminalize mention of Polish crimes during the Holocaust
By Clara Weiss, 30 January 2018
The far-reaching assault on free speech is part of the systematic effort of the right-wing PiS government to strengthen fascist forces and, along with that, falsify the history of Poland.
European Union threatens to impose sanctions on Poland
By Clara Weiss, 27 December 2017
The conflict between Brussels and Warsaw is an expression of the ongoing breakup of the European Union.
Sixty thousand fascists march in Warsaw
By Clara Weiss, 14 November 2017
The fascist forces demonstrating in Warsaw have been strengthened and even armed by both right-wing governments in Europe, and US imperialism.
German conservative newspaper threatens Poland with territorial demands
By Peter Schwarz, 16 September 2017
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung warned the Polish government that its western border would no longer be recognised if it continues to insist upon reparations.
Polish government demands war reparations from Germany
By Clara Weiss, 22 August 2017
Especially since the inauguration of US president Donald Trump, the relations between Warsaw and Berlin have considerably deteriorated.
Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoes government’s judicial reform
By Clara Weiss, 27 July 2017
On Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoed two key aspects of the judicial reform of the governing Law and Justice Party, which would have given the government virtually unrestricted control over the judicial system.
After Trump visit to Poland: PiS government adopts new authoritarian measures
By Clara Weiss, 24 July 2017
Less than three weeks after Trump’s visit, the ruling PiS has pushed through legislation that will place the judicial system under its control.
Trump’s visit to Poland: A return to the pre-war Intermarium strategy
By Clara Weiss, 17 June 2017
Trump’s visit is a clear signal that the US is increasingly relying on an alliance with Eastern European countries in face of mounting tensions with Germany and France.
Bloodletting in Polish army leadership
By Clara Weiss, 30 March 2017
Some 92 percent of the cadre in the general staff and 82 percent of colonels have been replaced over the recent months, according to the Polish defence ministry.
Growing criticism of the EU in Poland after the re-election of Tusk
By Clara Weiss, 20 March 2017
At the EU summit, Poland was the only country to vote against Donald Tusk's re-election as president of the European Council.
Germany and Poland seek rapprochement
By Clara Weiss, 10 February 2017
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Warsaw saw efforts on both sides to improve bilateral relations after they had deteriorated sharply under the Polish PiS government.
Poland “faces tragic decision” after Trump election
By Clara Weiss, 25 January 2017
According to the conservative newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Poland faces a “devilish decision” between allying itself either with the US or with Germany and the European Union.
US escalates Russia tensions on eve of Trump inauguration
By Bill Van Auken, 18 January 2017
The deployment of 300 Marines to Norway Monday was accompanied by a barrage of anti-Russian rhetoric from the outgoing Obama administration.
Parliamentary crisis in Poland deepens amid US troop deployment
By Clara Weiss, 18 January 2017
As 3,500 US troops deploy to Poland, escalating plans for war against Russia, the ruling Law and Justice Party continues its efforts to build up a dictatorial regime.
Amid anti-Russia media campaign
First permanent deployment of US troops on Russian border since Cold War
By Andre Damon, 16 January 2017
Some 4,000 US troops, together with tanks, artillery and armored vehicles, arrived in Poland over the weekend, further escalating tensions with Russia ahead of the inauguration of Trump.
Racist anti-immigrant riots in Poland
By Clara Weiss, 16 January 2017
Racist clashes broke out in the northeastern Polish town of Ełk at the New Year, following the murder of a 21-year-old Polish man.
New report documents extreme poverty in Poland
By Clara Weiss, 11 January 2017
The report reveals the miserable living conditions facing broad sections of the working class and the peasant population who lack access to basic elements of civilization.
The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw—Part 2
From the Holocaust to present-day Poland
By Clara Weiss, 11 January 2017
The core exhibition at the recently opened POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw has now marked its second anniversary.
The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw—Part 1
Jewish life in Poland before World War II
By Clara Weiss, 9 January 2017
The core exhibition at the recently opened POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw has now marked its second anniversary.
Polish government strips powers from parliament and constitutional court
By Clara Weiss, 29 December 2016
Encouraged by the electoral victory of Donald Trump in the US, the Polish ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has stepped up its efforts to establish an authoritarian regime.
Police break up opposition-led blockade of Polish parliament
By Clara Weiss, 19 December 2016
With this latest stand-off, the constitutional crisis in Poland that began over a year ago following PiS’ accession to government has reached a turning point.
UK-Poland summit reveals growing national antagonisms in Europe
By Clara Weiss, 14 December 2016
Theresa May’s government hosted a summit November 28 between Great Britain and Poland aimed at fostering a strategic political and military alliance between the two countries.
Polish parliament approves creation of paramilitary militia
By Clara Weiss, 6 December 2016
The Polish parliament gave its approval for the creation of an army for territorial defence in mid-November.
Polish bourgeoisie divided over US election
By Dorota Niemitz and Clara Weiss, 15 November 2016
Sharp divisions in the reaction to Donald Trump’s election victory exposed differences over foreign policy among Poland’s ruling elites.
Polish government prepares legal action against EU council president Donald Tusk
By Clara Weiss, 31 October 2016
The Polish government is preparing legal action against the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk.
Tensions rise between Poland and France after failed arms deal
By Clara Weiss, 17 October 2016
Relations between France and Poland have worsened substantially after the Polish government pulled out of an arms deal with Airbus that had been planned for years.
Poland: PiS government beats retreat on antiabortion law
By Clara Weiss, 7 October 2016
The government is preparing for more fundamental attacks on the living standards of the working class and an escalation of the military buildup against Russia.
Poland: Tens of thousands protest proposed anti-abortion bill
By Clara Weiss, 5 October 2016
If passed, the bill would implement a ban on abortions, including for minors and victims of rape.
Polish Parliament approves ban on abortion
By Clara Weiss, 28 September 2016
The latest ban on abortions is deeply reactionary and represents an attack on the democratic and social rights of the working class.
Polish government strengthens the far right
By Clara Weiss, 21 September 2016
Since the Law and Justice Party took over in government last autumn, the number of xenophobic attacks has reached its highest level since 1989.
Polish and British governments exploit attacks on Polish immigrants
By Clara Weiss, 15 September 2016
Attacks on Polish immigrants in the UK are being exploited by the Polish and British ruling class to strengthen their alliance, amid deepening divisions within the EU.
Polish and Ukrainian governments use World War II war crimes to promote nationalism
By Jason Melanovski, 5 September 2016
Relations between Poland and Ukraine have soured in recent months, as their respective right-wing governments promote ethnic nationalism, anti-communism, and militarism.
Polish PiS government encourages anti-Semitism
By Clara Weiss, 29 August 2016
The government in Warsaw is promoting a revision of history that downplays Polish nationalist participation in anti-Semitic crimes.
Atlantic Council proposes to develop Poland as a stronghold for war with Russia
By Clara Weiss, 10 August 2016
The American think tank has published a 25-page strategy paper titled “Arming for Deterrence” calling for a massive NATO military build-up against Russia.
Polish government puts Warsaw under effective martial law for NATO summit
By Dorota Niemitz, 9 July 2016
The government has put Warsaw under terrorist alert, allowing for implementation of the harsh security measures previously possible only under the martial law.
Issues raised by the “Labor Relations” exhibition at the Wrocław Contemporary Museum
By Dorota Niemitz, 21 June 2016
Labor Relations at the Wrocław Contemporary Museum in Poland is drawn from the museum’s international art collection.
NATO orders four additional battalions to Russian border
By Thomas Gaist, 14 June 2016
The deployments are among the most provocative actions taken by the NATO high command in the course of its anti-Russian buildup, now well into its second year.
Tensions mount in Poland in run-up to NATO summit
By Dorota Niemitz, 9 June 2016
Six former ministers of national defense published an open letter attacking the current defense minister, Antoni Macierewicz, and demanding his resignation.
Ninety years since the coup of Piłsudski
The Strategy of the Intermarium—Part 4
NATO’s preparations for war with Russia
By Clara Weiss, 3 June 2016
This is the final part of a series reviewing the history of the Intermarium, which was developed as a bourgeois nationalist antipode to the United Socialist States of Europe as proposed by Leon Trotsky.
Ninety Years Since the Coup of Piłsudski
The Strategy of the Intermarium—Part 3
The Intermarium and Poland’s integration into the US war alliance against Russia
By Clara Weiss, 2 June 2016
This is the third part of a series reviewing the history of the Intermarium, which was developed as a bourgeois nationalist antipode to the United Socialist States of Europe as proposed by Leon Trotsky.
Ninety years since the coup of Piłsudski
The Strategy of the Intermarium—Part 1
The Intermarium and the Russian Revolution
By Clara Weiss, 31 May 2016
This is the first part of a series reviewing the history of the Intermarium, the main basis of which emerged in the period leading up to World War I, as a bourgeois nationalist antipode to the United Socialist States of Europe as proposed by Leon Trotsky.
Poland adopts new anti-communist law
By Dorota Niemitz, 14 May 2016
The so-called “de-communization” law is an attempt by the country’s right-wing government to rewrite the history of the Twentieth Century.
Tens of thousands demonstrate against Polish government
By Clara Weiss, 12 May 2016
Under the slogan “We are and will remain in Europe,” tens of thousands demonstrated in Warsaw last Saturday against the Law and Justice Party (PiS) government.
Lech Wałęsa: A Stalinist agent in the Solidarity movement
By Dorota Niemitz, 3 May 2016
The Institute of National Remembrance has published secret documents showing that the former Solidarity leader and president of Poland was a Stalinist informer.
Poland’s Patriot Act: PiS government proposes new anti-terrorism law
By Dorota Niemitz, 27 April 2016
Cynically utilising the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, the Polish government is hastily introducing its own version of the USA Patriot Act.
Constitutional crisis in Poland continues
By Clara Weiss, 17 March 2016
The move to the right by the Polish government has exacerbated the crisis in the EU and led to growing tensions with Germany.
Polish government expands police state powers
By Clara Weiss, 25 February 2016
Since assuming power last autumn, the right-wing nationalist PiS government has enacted a series of authoritarian laws.
German economics minister seeks to smooth relations with Poland
By Clara Weiss, 4 February 2016
The Nord Stream pipeline, which supplies gas from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea, is one of the most important issues of dispute between Berlin and Warsaw.
Polish government intensifies military build-up
By Dorota Niemitz, 28 January 2016
The US and Britain have promised Poland more troops to strengthen the “eastern flank of NATO” against “Russian aggression.”
Poland placed under EU supervision amid escalating Polish-German tensions
By Dorota Niemitz and Clara Weiss, 15 January 2016
The European Commission has initiated a monitoring of “the rule of law” in Poland.
German politicians and media agitate against Poland
By Clara Weiss, 12 January 2016
Representatives of German imperialism and its servants in the media have absolutely no right to lecture any country about “democracy” and “tolerance.”
Right-wing Polish government takes control of public media
By Dorota Niemitz and Clara Weiss, 4 January 2016
In another step towards establishing authoritarian rule, the Law and Justice government has adopted a bill to subordinate public broadcast services to its right-wing agenda.
Notes on a visit to Łódź, Poland
By Clara Weiss, 24 December 2015
Few cities in Eastern Europe have played as great a role in the history of the working class movement as Łódź.
Poland: Anti-government rallies continue as Lech Wałęsa warns of civil war
By Dorota Niemitz and Clara Weiss, 22 December 2015
As the constitutional crisis drags on, thousands took to the streets to oppose the new Polish government for the second week in a row.
Tens of thousands march in Warsaw against constitutional coup
By Dorota Niemitz, 16 December 2015
Some 50,000 people marched Saturday through the streets of Warsaw, Poland to protest against the unconstitutional actions of the newly formed Law and Justice (PiS) government.
Polish government signals interest in hosting US nuclear weapons
By Thomas Gaist, 7 December 2015
Poland would become the sixth country in Europe to host US nuclear forces as part of the NATO “nuclear sharing” program.
Poland: New government moves quickly to disempower constitutional court
By Dorota Niemitz, 5 December 2015
The appointment of five new judges to Poland’s highest court is an integral part of the new PiS government’s campaign to introduce an authoritarian state.
Polish government cracks down on culture
By Dorota Niemitz, 2 December 2015
A key aim of the newly elected conservative PiS government is to transform the public media into a nationalistic institution under state control.
Constitutional coup in Poland
By Clara Weiss, 1 December 2015
The right-wing nationalist PiS is attempting to consolidate its power with assistance from the judiciary, intelligence agencies and a co-opted media.
New right-wing, anti-Russian government takes power in Poland
By Clara Weiss, 25 November 2015
The new Polish government advocates an aggressive foreign policy and attacks on the social and democratic rights of the population.
Poland will not extradite Roman Polanski to the US
By Dorota Niemitz, 31 October 2015
American authorities sought Polanski’s deportation to the US during the director’s visit to attend the opening ceremony of the museum on the history of Polish Jews in October 2014.
The shift to the right in Poland and the crisis of the EU
By Peter Schwarz, 29 October 2015
The European Union, touted by the political establishment as the embodiment of European unity, peace and prosperity, is today a hotbed of nationalism, inequality, dictatorship and war.
Right-wing nationalist party wins Polish parliamentary elections
By Clara Weiss, 28 October 2015
The outcome of the Polish election will mean an intensification of national conflicts within the European Union and a continuation of Warsaw’s militarist policy towards Russia.
Polish ruling class divided over foreign policy in run-up to general election
By Clara Weiss, 24 October 2015
A central point of contention between the two leading parties, the right-wing Law and Justice Party and the ruling Civic Platform, is Poland's relationship with Germany.
Politicians stoke racism against refugees in run-up to Polish elections
By Clara Weiss, 17 October 2015
Ahead of parliamentary elections on October 25, political parties are using the refugee crisis to stoke racism and push Polish politics further to the right.
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