Title page
Contents
Summary 5
1. The Law and Justice Government, 2015 to 2023 7
1.1. The rise of the Law and Justice Party and Civic Platform 7
Law and Justice wins power for the first time in 2005 8
Civic Platform wins power in 2007 8
1.2. Law and Justice election wins in 2015 and 2019 9
1.3. Social conservatism and concerns about illiberalism 10
1.4. Dispute with the EU over judicial reforms 10
1.5. Abortion ban 11
1.6. Anti-LGBT policies 12
1.7. Disagreements with EU on migration policy 13
1.8. Support for Ukraine 13
1.9. Relations with Belarus 14
1.10. Other recent developments 15
Call for war reparations from Germany 15
Establishment of state commission to examine Russian influence 15
Cash for visas scandal 16
2. October 2023 elections: Law and Justice loses power 17
2.1. Opposition parties 17
2.2. Election campaign 19
Accusations of media bias 20
2.3. Referendums held on election day 21
2.4. Election results 22
Reaction 22
OSCE/Council of Europe findings on the election 23
2.5. Aftermath of elections 24
2.6. New government formed 25
2.7. Tusk's government in office: early developments 27
Request for release of EU funds 27
Removal of board of state media 27
Imprisonment and pardon of former interior minister 27
Tusk visit to Ukraine 28