Florentyna Martynska

Who will be the next president of Poland, one of the largest European nations? The presidential election in Poland has not yet been scheduled but is expected to take place in May 2025. However, it is already making headlines across the country. The Polish president, who serves a 5-year term, has a largely representative role but is also responsible for signing and vetoing legislation and exercising legislative initiative.

Poland has proudly joined the EU 20 years ago. However, the European Parliament still lacks credible representation in the eyes of many voters, in particular the country\'s youth. As the EP elections approach, one must question the true purpose of these elections in Poland. Are these elections genuine democratic exercises or merely opportunities for aging politicians to secure pensions and receive a last token of appreciation from their parties?

As Poland\'s parliamentary election approaches, a concerning trend has emerged. The far-right party, Konfederacja, with its current polling at 8-12%, is aggressively targeting the young electorate. While they champion economic liberal ideas like \'economic freedom\' and \'simple, low taxes,\' they conveniently sidestep the importance of ideological freedom.

Under the pretext of investigating the Russia\'s influence in Poland, the newly formed polish parliamentary commission has been granted the authority to silence the opposition and impose a ban on individuals holding public positions for up to 10 years. In the light of the upcoming fall parliamentary elections, this tool strikes at those seeking to run in the elections or get appointed.

Poland\'s national railway system has left much to be desired in terms of quality of service, starting from the frequent delays and cancellations. However, since January 11, 2023, there has been an additional factor refraining potential customers from relying on the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation.