Poland

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski recently announced plans to introduce a digital tax in Poland on the revenues or profits of big tech corporations operating in the country.¹ The funds raised would be used to subsidize the development of Polish companies and start-ups in the digital technology sector and media.

As the Festival of Ideas approaches, the twelfth edition of the Lodz Forum promises to be an event like no other. Scheduled for October 24-26 at EXPO Lodz, this year’s theme, “Time of Uncertainty,” will take participants on a journey through the pressing challenges of our age.

What does Kosovo\'s path to the EU look like? What should we know about Kosovo\'s struggle for independence? What geopolitical tensions should we be aware of in the Western Balkans? And what is the situation of the Kosovar in Warsaw, Poland? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Ambassador Drilon S. Gashi, the Chief of Mission of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kosovo in Warsaw.

Young men were forgotten by the campaign. Young men were forgotten by the politics. Young men were forgotten by Poland. That is why Nawrocki won the election. The recent elections confirmed what we had already known about Poland for many years. Poles are divided, torn almost exactly in half by striking polarization. The results of the first round immediately confirmed the greatest fears. This division of Poland is still going on.

Why has the Portuguese politics become volatile and fragmented? What should we know about the Portuguese politicians and their conflicts of interest? How to address the problem of the Chega party and the rise of populism in Portugal? And what is the current status of the relations between Portugal and the EU? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Ricardo Silvestre, an author and a political scientist who is an Associate Fellow at the European Liberal Forum (ELF).

Nowadays, Polish Democrats must learn how to navigate the increasingly complicated reality of geopolitics and juggle competing priorities. In this context, however, the United States of America should be kept as a crucial associate as long as possible. The global balance of power and a realistic assessment of future trends make this strategy essential for Polish democracy.

What does the forthcoming presidential election in Poland mean for Europe? What are the main issues and divisions between the candidates that occur in the ongoing campaign? And how will the election result influence the current government and its policy? Leszek Jazdzewski talks with Adam Jasser, the Deputy Director at TVP World.

The Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, has once again declared that her ministry is working on a list of professions to be protected from the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), along with regulations that would limit or even ban the use of AI in certain jobs. This move could turn Poland into an economic backwater and harm Polish citizens, including those working in the professions in question.

Poland is taking significant steps towards deregulation, driven by the growing need to simplify its legal framework. Efforts are underway to improve the quality of law by removing outdated and unnecessary regulations, fostering a more business-friendly and efficient environment for citizens and enterprises alike. But will these efforts truly lead to a more dynamic and innovative Poland, or are we simply replacing one set of challenges with another?

The Polish economy depends on deregulation not becoming a passing trend or an episode of the election campaign. Deregulation has the potential to be a major driver of growth. If there were a contest for the economic buzzword of the year in Poland, “deregulation” would be a frontrunner. Thanks to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s meeting with entrepreneurs in February 2025, the issue briefly rose to the forefront of Polish politics.