Poland's asylum law in transition: election campaign, reforms and power games!

Poland's asylum law in transition: election campaign, reforms and power games!

In Poland there are signs of change. On Sunday, June 1, 2025, new tightening of asylum law came into force, introduced by the government under Donald Tusk. The main focus of these changes is to prevent possible misuse of visas and to regulate access to the labor market more strictly. Tusk emphasizes that Poland is now regaining control of its borders. Migration was a central issue in the presidential election campaign, with both Tusk's conservative Civic Platform (PO) and the opposition PiS party grappling with it intensively. These changes to the law come into effect on the very day of the presidential runoff election, causing a stir and debate. Voter turnout was significantly high until midday.

Links to the event: South Germans reports in detail about the background. This election is about much more than just a presidential election, as the new president will have a decisive influence on the ability of Tusk's coalition to govern. Additional tensions could arise from the occupied Chamber for Election Influence, which is entirely controlled by the PiS. This raises the question of whether PiS could challenge the election in the event of a narrow defeat, which is not unfounded - after all, the European Court of Justice has classified this chamber as illegitimate.

Election campaign and controversial allegations

The election campaign was marked by heated debates. In the first round of voting, candidates Rafał Trzaskowski from the PO and Karol Nawrocki from the PiS were only 60,000 votes apart. Trzaskowski is supported by the government, but his campaign is facing allegations of foreign election financing - specifically, a PR agency from Vienna is mentioned. While the Polish media reported on unofficial election commercials, the state cybersecurity institute Nask found that they were not officially from Trzaskov's campaign. These allegations cast a shadow over the integrity of the election and could have a significant impact on the mood of the electorate.

The tension also includes the accusation that these spots were deliberately produced by third parties in order to later incriminate Trzaskowski. The civil rights organization Akcja Demokracja denied responsibility, while US lawmakers called on the EU Commission to investigate the allegedly illegal election advertising. It is unclear how these political movements will affect the stability of Polish democracy in the long term. In recent elections in Poland, there have been no cases of judges declaring an election invalid, further complicating the situation.

Future prospects for the PiS

The PiS, which received almost 44 percent of the vote in the recent parliamentary elections and thus became the strongest force in the Sejm, is under pressure. Despite an absolute majority in the most important part of the House, it has lost control in the Senate, which could further slow down legislative work. In order to push through its plans, the PiS could rely on getting some elected senators on its side. However, a possible loss of the presidential election could change the balance of power in Poland in the long term. The political landscape is firmly in flux and the framework for reform is becoming more complex, especially as the opposition grows stronger and the EU remains vigilant.

PiS will try to continue its reforms - including building a welfare state and transforming the energy sector. But the challenges cannot be underestimated: the party could face economic difficulties, especially if an economic slowdown within the EU also affects Poland. The party's previous successes and its handling of new draft laws will be crucial to whether it can maintain the trust of the electorate. The pressure is growing.

The situation in Poland is tense and developing rapidly. The coming days could point the way and mean a deep turning point in Polish politics. The fate of the PiS depends on how the electorate decides and what consequences the election ultimately has for the entire government policy.