Polish withdrawal from the European Union explained

A Polish withdrawal from the European Union, or Polexit (a portmanteau of "Poland" and "exit"), is the name given to a hypothetical Polish withdrawal from the European Union. The term was coined after Brexit, the process of Britain's withdrawal from the EU which took place between 2016 and 2020. Opinion polls held in the country, between 2016 and 2021, indicated majority support for continued membership of the European Union (EU). A 2022 survey indicated that "[at] least eight-in-ten adults in Poland" believed that the EU "promotes peace, democratic values and prosperity".[1] The 2023 Polish parliamentary election was won by a coalition of predominantly pro-EU parties.[2]

History

See also: History of the European Union (1993–2004), Poland in the European Union and Polish constitutional crisis.

Poland joined the European Union in 2004 through the Treaty of Accession 2003. At the time the EU included fifteen countries, mostly from Western, Northern and Southern Europe (see the Maastricht Treaty); the Treaty of Accession 2003 would accept ten more, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, and Mediterranean States.

In 2016, following continued political pressures from British Eurosceptics, Britain conducted a referendum on withdrawal from the EU. After the referendum had narrowly favored withdrawal, international media started speculating about the prospects of a similar event taking place in Poland (a so-called Polexit).[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

In 2019, the Supreme Court of Poland warned that the judicial reform planned by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party could result in Poland having to leave the EU, as it undermines the independence of the judiciary and challenges the principle of the primacy of EU law, which is a key condition for membership that Poland had signed up to in its Treaty of Accession.[8]

On 22 November 2020, Do Rzeczy, a Polish weekly newspaper, published a front-page article called "Polexit: We have the right to talk about it".

In September 2021, Ryszard Terlecki, Deputy Marshal of the Sejm and head of the Law and Justice parliamentary caucus, said that his party '[wanted] to remain in the EU and to have a cooperative relationship', but that the EU 'should be acceptable to us'. He added that if things were to go the way they were likely to go, they would have to search for a "drastic solution", further contending that the British left the EU because "the dictatorship of the Brussels bureaucracy did not suit them". This led to some people saying Terlecki had thus called for a Polexit.[9] [10]

October 2021 Constitutional Tribunal ruling

The government of Poland has been making controversial changes to the Polish judiciary, in particular as related to the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, the National Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court as well as its Disciplinary Chamber. These have attracted scrutiny from the European Court of Justice, which has been issuing rulings attempting to stop these changes that it sees as undermining the rule of law and judicial independence.[11] [12] [13] The Tribunal's legitimacy is contested after multiple appointments of judges loyal to the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party were made, some of which in controversial circumstances.[14]

In March 2021, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki asked the Constitutional Tribunal whether the Polish constitution is above EU regulations and EU court rulings and whether the European Court of Justice acted beyond the powers granted by the EU treaties when controlling the judicial reforms in Poland, which the government insisted was the case.[15]

On 7 October 2021, Poland's Constitutional Tribunal ruled that some provisions of EU treaties and EU court rulings clashed with the Constitution of Poland, asserting that EU institutions [were acting] beyond the scope of their competences; effectively rejecting the notion of primacy of EU law.[16] [17] BBC News and Foreign Policy reported that this risked Polexit,[18] while the Financial Times called it "legal secession from the EU";[19] however, The Economist opined that Polexit is unlikely due to this court ruling, instead talking of a "dirty remain".[20]

Public opinion

In the 2003 Polish referendum on joining the EU, 77.6% of voters voted in favor. Poland joined the EU the following year, and since then–according to regular polls conducted by the governmental Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS)–no more than a quarter of respondents ever supported leaving, with support gradually waning down to a mere 5% in 2019 and 6% in 2021.[21] For more results, see the table below.

Summary of chosen public opinion polls on possible Polish withdrawal from the EU!Date!Leave!Remain!Abstain!Undecided!Source
May 201622%---Ipsos[22]
September 20168%N/AN/AN/AOKO.press / Ipsos[23]
January 201810%N/AN/AN/AOKO.press / Ipsos[24]
September 201811%83%-3%TVN / Kantar Millward Brown[25]
October 20188%84%-8%Rzeczpospolita / [26]
December 20188%N/AN/AN/AOKO.press / Ipsos
March 2019-87%--Globsec[27]
September 201913%75%5%7%Kantar[28]
January 20206%89%-5%TVN / Kantar Media[29]
November 20208%87%-5%TVN / Kantar Media[30]
November 20207%N/AN/AN/AOKO.press / Ipsos[31]
November 202011%81.1%-7.9%Rzeczpospolita / IBRiS[32]
July 202116.9%62.6%-20%Rzeczpospolita / SWR[33]
September 20217%81%-12%TVN / Kantar Media[34]
September 2021-88%--Gazeta Wyborcza / OKO.press / Ipsos[35]
September 202116.2%64.5%7.2%12.1%Rzeczpospolita / SWR[36]
October 2021 14.8%64.4%6.7%14.1%Rzeczpospolita / SWR

However, there is some support for conducting a second referendum on EU membership: in an October 2021 poll conducted for Rzeczpospolita, 42.6% of respondents were for, while 36.9% were against.[37]

In response to the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal earlier that month (mentioned above), more than 100,000 Poles took part in a 10 October 2021 demonstrations in support of Poland's continued membership, including 80,000-100,000 protesters in Warsaw alone.[38]

Endorsement of Polexit by political parties

In general, Eurosceptic parties in Poland hold right-wing political views. For instance, the Confederation Liberty and Independence (Konfederacja) party has called for a withdrawal from the European Union on several occasions,[39] [40] and its electorate is among the most Eurosceptic on the Polish political arena, with a quarter of voters for the party endorsing Polexit, according to a November 2020 poll. Similarly, members of United Poland (Solidarna Polska), a junior coalition partner for PiS, have questioned whether the EU is appropriate for Polish interests,[41] [42] [43] and the party's head, Zbigniew Ziobro, said he would not approve any constitutional change anchoring Poland in the European Union;[44] however, they also said that if the European Union institutions get "appropriately" reformed, they might agree to stay.[45] [46], which emerged on the base of the Congress of the New Right and is centered around Stanisław Żółtek, a former MEP from that party and candidate for 2020 presidential election, is also arguing for secession from the European Union. It is not currently represented in either Polish or European parliament. In 2020, Żółtek received 0,23% of votes in the presidential elections.

Law and Justice (PiS) and Kukiz'15 are also Eurosceptic parties.[47] [48] Critics, including Donald Tusk (former President of the European Council as well as leader of the Civic Platform), and currently the Prime Minister of Poland, warn that PiS' actions will eventually lead to Polexit and will jeopardise Poland's future in the EU,[38] [49] though Jarosław Kaczyński, its leader, and former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki both dismissed the allegations that PiS is preparing for it as "fake news",[50] [51] [52] while Paweł Kukiz said that "no Polexit would happen because there's no possibility for the EU to expel us".[53] Similar remarks were made by Przemysław Czarnek, the former minister of education.[54]

There are currently no left-wing, left-of-centre or centrist parties represented in parliament endorsing Polexit, and their electorate's support for withdrawal from the European Union is negligible. The somewhat conservative Polish People's Party (PSL) and Poland 2050 are also known as a pro-European political organisations.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Despite recent political clashes, most people in Poland and Hungary see the EU favorably . Pew Research . 18 October 2022 . 25 February 2024 .
  2. Web site: Poland's parliament elects Donald Tusk as prime minister . Al Jazeera. 11 December 2023 . 25 February 2024 . Tusk elected prime minister [..] after a national election was won by a coalition of pro-EU parties .
  3. Web site: 2017-12-13. Poland: How feasible is a 'Polexit?'. Deutsche Welle.
  4. News: Poland's EU budget veto stokes talk of 'Polexit'. 2020-12-10. Financial Times. 6 December 2020. Shotter. James.
  5. Web site: 2020-12-09. Poles voice fears of 'Polexit' as govt defies EU over budget. 2020-12-10. AP NEWS.
  6. Web site: 2020-11-30. Polexit: 3 reasons why Poland will quit the EU and 3 why it won't. 2020-12-10. POLITICO. en-US.
  7. Web site: [Analysis] Playing with fire - Poland's PiS reach for the 'Polexit' matches]. 2020-12-10. EUobserver. 10 December 2020 . en.
  8. News: Poland may have to leave EU, Supreme Court warns . BBC News . 17 December 2019.
  9. Web site: Kaczyński. Piotr Maciej. 2021-09-10. Poland's ruling PiS sends mixed signals on 'Polexit'. 2021-10-17. Euractiv.
  10. News: Skolimowski. Piotr. 9 September 2021. Polish Ruling Party Official Backpedals EU Exit Suggestion. Bloomberg. 2021-10-17.
  11. Web site: 2021-03-02. Court of Justice says Polish judicial amendments may violate EU law. 2021-10-17. POLITICO. en-US.
  12. News: Baczynska . Gabriela . Florkiewicz . Pawel . 2021-07-15 . EU court rules Polish judicial reform illegal in worsening standoff . en . Reuters . 2021-10-17.
  13. News: Baczynska . Gabriela . Wlodarczak-semczuk . Anna . 2021-10-06 . EU court voids decision by Polish judge found to lack independence . en . Reuters . 2021-10-17.
  14. Web site: 2 August 2021 . The EU must be tougher with Poland on the rule of law . 26 October 2021 . Financial Times . Tony . Barber . en.
  15. Web site: 2021-03-29. Premier złożył wniosek do TK. Chodzi o kwestię wyższości konstytucji nad prawem UE. Prime Minister filed a request for ruling to Constitutional Tribunal. It is about the question of [Polish Constitution's] supremacy over EU law.. 2021-10-17. PAP. pl. Business Insider.
  16. News: The Guardian . Polish court rules EU laws incompatible with its constitution . Jon . Henley . Jennifer . Rankin . 7 October 2021 . 11 October 2021.
  17. Web site: Coakley. Amanda. Polish Court Ruling Sets Stage for 'Polexit'. 2021-10-17. Foreign Policy. 8 October 2021 . en-US.
  18. News: 2021-10-08. Poland stokes fears of leaving EU in 'Polexit'. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-10-09.
  19. News: The Editorial Board . 2021-10-10 . A legal secession from the EU will cost Poland dearly . Financial Times . 2021-10-17.
  20. News: 2021-10-14. Poland is a problem for the EU precisely because it will not leave. The Economist. 2021-10-17. 0013-0613.
  21. Web site: Trendy - stosunek do integracji z UE. 2021-10-31. Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej. pl.
  22. Web site: May 2016. Europeans' attitudes to UK's EU Referendum. Ipsos.
  23. Web site: 2016-10-19. Polakom dalej do Europy niż Polkom. 2021-10-31. oko.press.
  24. Web site: 2019-02-17. Europejczycy, w tym Polacy, chcą federalizacji Unii. Tak mówią dane. 2021-10-31. oko.press.
  25. Web site: 2018-09-17. Sondaż: Polacy chcą zostać w Unii Europejskiej. 2021-10-31. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  26. Web site: 2018-11-26. Sondaż: Polacy nie chcą polexitu. 2021-10-31. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  27. Book: GLOBSEC Trends 2019 - Central and Eastern Europe 30 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Globsec. 2019. Bratislava.
  28. Web site: 2019-12-21. Polacy wcale nie chcą Polexitu! Fałszywa sensacja po sondażu Eurobarometru. 2021-10-31. oko.press.
  29. Web site: 2020-02-01. Czy Polska powinna opuścić Unię Europejską? Sondaż dla "Faktów" TVN i TVN24. 2021-10-12. TVN24.pl. pl.
  30. Web site: Jakubowska. Joanna. 2020-11-24. 87% of Poles believe Poland should remain in the EU. 2021-10-17. Euractiv. en-GB.
  31. Web site: 2020-12-05. Aż 1/3 Polaków wierzy w antyunijną propagandę [SONDAŻ] - OKO.press]. 2021-10-31. oko.press.
  32. Web site: 2020-11-23. Ponad 80 proc. Polaków zagłosowałoby w referendum za pozostaniem Polski w UE [SONDAŻ]]. 2021-10-31. forsal.pl. pl.
  33. Web site: Sondaż: Prawie 17 proc. Polaków za polexitem. 2021-10-12. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  34. Web site: 2021-09-12. Czy Polska powinna pozostać w Unii Europejskiej? Sondaż. 2021-10-12. TVN24.pl. pl.
  35. Web site: 2021-10-05. Prawie 90 procent Polaków nie chce wychodzić z Unii Europejskiej. 2021-10-12. Polska Agencja Prasowa SA. pl.
  36. Web site: Wanat. Zosia. 8 October 2021. Polish opposition sounds Polexit alarm and calls for protests. 2021-10-17. Politico.
  37. Web site: 2021-10-17. Sondaż: Czy Polacy chcieliby ponownego referendum ws. obecności w UE? Jak by zagłosowali?. 2021-10-17. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  38. News: Wlodarczak-Semczuk. Anna. Pempel. Kacper. 2021-10-11. "Brexit can happen here", Poles demonstrate in support of EU membership . en . Reuters . 2021-10-12.
  39. News: 1 March 2019 . Anti-EU Block forms on the Polish right . PolandIn . Telewizja Polska .
  40. Web site: 2018-12-06. "Łączy nas Polexit". Narodowcy i Korwin-Mikke łączą siły przed wyborami do PE. "Polexit unites us". Nationalists and Korwin-Mikke join forces before the elections to the European Parliament. 2020-09-30. Do Rzeczy. pl.
  41. Web site: EMW . 2021-09-10 . Polexit? Kowalski: Unia Europejska nas łupi . Polexit? Kowalski: The European Union is plundering us . 2021-10-17 . wiadomosci.wp.pl . pl.
  42. Web site: 2021-09-20. Janusz Kowalski: jeśli będziemy jeszcze bardziej tracić, zagłosuję za polexitem. Janusz Kowalski: If we lose even more, I will vote for Polexit. 2021-10-17. polsatnews.pl. Polsat News. pl.
  43. Web site: 2021-11-03. Janusz Kowalski: Referendum polexitowe może być w 2027. 2021-11-03. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  44. Web site: 2021-09-25 . Ziobro odpowiada na propozycję Tuska: Solidarna Polska nigdy takiej koncepcji nie poprze . Ziobro responds to Tusk's proposal: Solidarity Poland will never support such a concept . 2021-10-17 . Onet Wiadomości . pl.
  45. Web site: 2021-09-09. Polska powinna wyjść z Unii Europejskiej? Jaki opowiada o szczególnej sytuacji. Should Poland leave the European Union? Jaki talks about a special situation. 2021-10-17. Wprost. pl.
  46. Web site: Dobrosz-Oracz. Justyna. 2021-09-15. Ziobryści o polexicie: W ciągu 10 lat będzie pole do referendum. Ziobroites about Polexit: There will be grounds for a referendum in 10 years. 2021-10-17. Gazeta Wyborcza.
  47. Book: Guerra . Simona . Euroscepticisms: The Historical Roots of a Political Challenge . 2020 . Brill . 978-90-04-42125-7 . en . The Historical Roots of Euroscepticism in Poland.
  48. Lázár . Nóra . 2015 . Euroscepticism in Hungary and Poland: a Comparative Analysis of Jobbik and the Law and Justice Parties . Politeja – Pismo Wydziału Studiów Międzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego . English . 12 . 33 . 215–233 . 10.12797/Politeja.12.2015.33.11 . 1733-6716. free .
  49. News: Shotter . James . Fleming . Sam . 2021-10-08 . 'Polexit' talk grows after Warsaw challenges Brussels over EU law . Financial Times . subscription . 2021-10-17.
  50. News: Jarosław Kaczyński: Polexit jest fake newsem, pomysłem opozycji . Jarosław Kaczyński: Polexit is fake news, an idea of the opposition . 2021-10-17 . www.rmf24.pl . pl.
  51. Web site: 2021-10-12. Morawiecki: Opozycja próbuje insynuować nam, że chcemy doprowadzić do osłabienia UE. Morawiecki: The opposition is trying to insinuate that we want to weaken the EU. 2021-10-17. Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. pl.
  52. Web site: 2021-09-15 . 'There will be no Polexit': Kaczynski says Poland's future is in EU . 2021-10-17 . euronews . en.
  53. Web site: Paweł Kukiz: Polexitu nie będzie. Totalna opozycja tumani naród. Paweł Kukiz: There will be no Polexit. The total opposition deceives the nation. 2021-10-17. Rzeczpospolita. pl.
  54. Web site: "Histeria, którą ja nazywam polexitem urojonym". Czarnek o demonstracjach po orzeczeniu TK. "The hysteria which I call imaginary polexit." Czarnek on demonstrations after the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal. 2021-10-17. PolskieRadio.pl.

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