- Law and Justice
Infobox_ Political_Party
party_name = Law and Justice
party_
colorcode = #007FFF
leader =Jarosław Kaczyński
foundation =June 13 2001
ideology =Christian democracy ,National conservatism
headquarters = ul. Nowogrodzka 84/86 02-018Warsaw
international =Alliance for Europe of the Nations
europarl =Union for Europe of the Nations
website = [http://www.pis.org.pl/ www.pis.org.pl]Law and Justice ("Prawo i Sprawiedliwość", PiS) is a Polish political party.
The party was established in 2001, by the Kaczyński twins, Lech, the current
President of Poland , and Jarosław, current party president. Most present party members were once associated with the now defunctSolidarity Electoral Action coalition or theMovement for Reconstruction of Poland .History
The party was created on a wave of popularity gained by
Lech Kaczyński while heading thePolish Ministry of Justice (June 2000 to July 2001) in the AWS-led government, although local committees began appearing fromMarch 22 ,2001 ).The AWS itself was created from a diverse array of many small right-wing political parties.In the 2001 general election PiS gained 44 (of 460) seats in the lower chamber of the Polish Parliament (
Sejm ) with 9.5% of votes. In 2002,Lech Kaczyński was elected mayor ofWarsaw .In the 2005 general election PiS took first place with 27.0% of votes, which gave it 155 out of 460 seats in the Sejm and 49 out of 100 seats in the Senate. A coalition of PO and PiS was expected to be the most likely government to form after the election. The putative coalition parties had a falling out, however, related to fierce contest for the Polish presidency. In the end,
Lech Kaczyński won the second round of the presidential election on23 October 2005 with 54.0% of the vote, ahead ofDonald Tusk , the PO candidate.After the 2005 elections, PiS formed a minority government headed by
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz as prime minister, an arrangement that eventually turned out to be unworkable. In July 2006 PiS formed a majority government with the populistSelf-Defense of the Republic of Poland and nationalistLeague of Polish Families , headed by the PiS party leaderJarosław Kaczyński . Association with these parties, on the margins of Polish politics, was affecting severely the reputation of PiS. When accusations of corruption and sexual harassments against the leader of Self Defense surfaced, PiS chose to end the coalition and called for new elections.In the 2007 general election PiS managed to secure 32.1% of votes. Although an improvement over the results from two years before, the results were nevertheless a defeat for the party, as
Civic Platform gathered 41.5% of support. The party won 166 out of 460 seats in theSejm and 39 seats in theSenate of Poland .Ideology
International comparison
In terms of European politics, the PiS has resemblances to the
Christian Social Union of Bavaria or theAustrian People's Party , although there are differences in economic policy and PiS is further to the right on cultural issues than both these parties. In theEuropean Parliament it is affiliated with theUnion for a Europe of Nations group along with some conservative and/or nationalist parties. From an American perspective, PiS would be more comparable to conservative Democrats rather than Republicans, because it combines social conservatism with a moderate, centrist stance on fiscal issues.Platform
In comparison with the other major party with Solidarity roots,
Civic Platform , PiS projects a more traditional image overall. However the policies of both parties take inspiration from theCatholic social teaching .Economy
The party supports a state-guaranteed minimum social safety net and state intervention in the economy within
market economy bounds. During the election campaign it proposed tax decrease to two personal tax rates (18% and 32%) instead of current three (19%, 30% and 40%), and tax rebates related to the number of children in a family, as well as a reduction of theVAT rate (while keeping a variation between individual types of VAT rates). However, this has not been implemented. Also: a continuation of privatisation with the exclusion of several dozen state companies deemed to be of strategic importance for the country. PiS opposes cutting social welfare spending, and also proposed the introduction of a system of state-guaranteed housing loans (also unimplemented).Decommunization
PiS is a strong supporter of
lustration ("lustracja"), a verification system created ostensively to combat the influence of the Communist era security apparatus in Polish society. While current lustration laws require the verification of those who serve in public offices, PiS wants to expand the process to include university professors, lawyers, journalists, managers of large companies, and others performing "public functions". Those found to have collaborated with the security service, according to the party, should be forbidden to practice in their professions.PiS also supports revealing the names of all secret agents from the time of the communist regime.
Crime and corruption
PiS advocates increased criminal penalties. It postulates aggressive anti-corruption measures (including creation of an Anti-Corruption Office, open disclosure of the assets of politicians and important public servants), as well as broad and various measures to smooth the working of public institutions.
Constitution, power structures
PiS has presented a project for constitutional reform including, among others: allowing the president the right to pass laws by decree (when prompted to do so by the
Cabinet ), a reduction of the number of members of theSejm and Senat, and removal of constitutional bodies overseeing the media and monetary policy.Defence policy
The party is in favor of strengthening the Polish Army through diminishing bureaucracy and raising military expenditures, especially for modernization of army equipment. PiS plans to introduce a fully professional army and end conscription by 2012. It is also in favor of participation of Poland in foreign military missions led by the
United Nations ,NATO andUnited States , in countries likeAfganistan andIraq . Following the election, it declared that Polish soldiers will remain in Iraq for another 12 months.Foreign affairs
The party supports integration with the
European union on terms beneficial for Poland. It supports economic integration and tightening the cooperation in areas of energetic security and military, but is skeptical about closer political integration. It is against formation of Europeansuperstate or federation. PiS is in favor of strong political and military alliance of Poland with the United States.Health care
PiS supports free health care, provided by the state.
ocial issues
The party's views on social issues are broadly similar to those of conservative parties in other European countries.Fact|date=May 2008 It favors strengthening restrictions on
abortion , which is already illegal except in extraordinary circumstances. It is also againsteuthanasia . It opposes same-sex marriages or any other form of legal recognition of homosexual couples. The PiS are highly critical of sex and violence in the media.PiS promotes itself as a pro-family party. Prior to elections, it promised to build 3 million inexpensive housing units as a way to help young couples get married. Once in government, it pushed through legislations lengthening maternal leaves and offered qualified support to the idea of giving parents a grant for every newly-born child. It favors shutting down large supermarkets on Sundays and holidays, so their workers can spend more time with their families.
While PiS presents itself as a champion of the Catholic Church, its policies do not always align with the Church's teaching. Most notably, the party supports the
death penalty . It has also shown some flexibility in such matters asin vitro fertilization andstem cell research , which, like the death penalty, enjoy strong public support.Attitude to homosexuals
On
21 September 2005 , Jarosław Kaczyński said that "homosexuals should not be teachers", but that homosexuals "would not be persecuted". [http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,wid,7957825,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=1408] He also said: "The affirmation of homosexuality will lead to the downfall of civilization. We can't agree to it". [http://www.thegully.com/essays/gaymundo/051110_poland_election.html]On
22 September 2005 , another member of PiS, Adam Bielan, in an interview onTVP , made statements indicating that PiS does not yet have a clear policy on whether or not homosexuals should be accepted in jobs in which there is close contact with children. [http://ww2.tvp.pl/2216,20050922248045.strona] Gay sources claim, however, that there is a strong anti-homosexual strand in the party's rhetoric. [http://www.thegully.com/essays/gaymundo/051110_poland_election.html]In June 2006, while the party was in power, the state prosecutor announced an investigation of all gay groups for illegal financing, criminal connections, and pedophilia. This came in response to a May 12 letter from
Wojciech Wierzejski , a front-bench member of Parliament for and a vice-president of theLeague of Polish Families (Roman Giertych , the chairman of the League has been appointed minister of education). The League at that time made part of the government led by Jarosław Kaczyński. A copy of Wierzejski’s letter was attached to the state prosecutor’s order. In addition, the Ministry of Justice (headed byZbigniew Ziobro ) has ordered local prosecution offices to investigate if ‘any crimes of a pedophile nature have been committed by homosexual persons’ in their respective area. [http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2006/06/polands_crackdo.html] It must be noted, however, that no investigation of gay couples was ever started and the whole incident was augmented by gay-friendly mass-media.Equal opportunity
On
4 November 2005 , the PiS-led government closed down the Office of Government Representative for the Equal Status of Women and Men ("Biuro pełnomocnika rządu ds. równego statusu kobiet i mężczyzn"), replacing it with the newly created Department of Women, Family and Counteracting Discrimination of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy ("Departament Kobiet, Rodziny i Przeciwdziałania Dyskryminacji MPiPS").Leadership
Chairman:
Lech Kaczyński (2001–2003),Jarosław Kaczyński (2003–...)References
ee also
*
Instruction UOP nr 0015/92 External links
* [http://www.pis.org.pl/ Official website]
* [http://www.kppis.pl Official website of the parliamentary club]
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