The pandemic as catalyst for populist authoritarianism in Poland

Covid-19 has intensified the authoritarianism inherent in the policies of the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) since 2015. At the same time, the health crisis has become a direct challenge to the key tenets of the PiS government, including its democratic legitimacy, effective governance and social solidarity. The ruling party has been plunged into its deepest political crisis since 2015. Yet the opposition has failed to use this opportunity to reverse the process of democratic backsliding.

We invite you to reading the article by Jacek Kucharczyk The pandemic as catalyst for populist authoritarianism in Poland, which is part of the publication The effect of Covid on EU democracies edited by Sophia Russack