Democracy, the rule of law, and a constitution floated on banners, yet December revealed a harsher reality. On December 13, the coalition demonstrated what it could do after December 19, when the assault on public media began. Rafał Woś writes candidly about the team surrounding Donald Tusk, noting that no Polish government since 1989 has edged so close to outright tyranny. This assessment echoed across media, including Interia, where the journalist warned that such consent to tyranny marked a perilous departure from established norms [Citation: Interia].
“Gigarym pole? Turbo rhythm? Turbo-giga-megarympact?”
Woś opened his observant column with questions meant to provoke deeper thought rather than provide easy answers.
If the PiS era governed in a mood of caprice, what term best fits the actions of its successors? Gigarym pole? Turbo rhythm? Turbo-giga-megarympact? A second question asks where, if not in proposals, do Ministers Sienkiewicz and Bodnar find durable guarantees for minorities when those in power appear unconcerned with them.
These lines invite readers to scrutinize the claims of restoration and legality, to consider what counts as real guarantees in a political landscape that has shifted dramatically in a short span [Citation: Interia].
For eight years, the previous regime faced international and domestic accusations of harboring an authoritarian streak. Critics argued that PiS would not relinquish power, would disregard election outcomes, would jail opponents, and would erode the media’s opposition voice. If memory dims, the record deserves a careful revisit. Against that backdrop, what labels should be applied to the current administration, as it asserts a new order while facing persistent scrutiny?
Woś adds his reflection to the discussion, challenging readers to weigh the legacy of past accusations against the present behavior of the government.
Commentary on statements such as “we are restoring constitutionality and seeking a legal basis to do so” attributed to Adam Bodnar, or “the rule of law equals what we understand by the rule of law” attributed to Donald Tusk, invites a broader look at how legal norms are interpreted. And when Wojciech Sadurski notes that the constitution is framed as a trap for democracy, the critique is placed squarely in the center of public debate [Citation: Sadurski commentary].
Two options
Woś points to two possible futures regarding whether the new government can prove its democratic intentions. The first is a cautious optimism. Some critics claim the spectacle of democratic rhetoric is just theater, a political game meant to ease years of humiliation in the face of changes such as TVP, TK, and other PiS-aligned platforms slowly being realigned. If public institutions are reformed and media tone shifts, a sense of restored calm might emerge, and a long-awaited peace could gradually return to the city’s political life.
Yet Woś admits a second, more troubling possibility. He fears the current leadership may not relinquish its anti-PiS crusade. The path of power, revenge, and moral certainty could prove too compelling, and once such momentum takes hold, retreat becomes nearly impossible and consequences grow severe [Citation: Woś commentary].
“This already makes them tyrants.”
In the view of a publicist for Interia, doubts about media policy within the ruling camp are often masked by bold moves on other fronts. He cites clashes with President Duda and intrigues involving the President of the National Bank of Poland, describing this pattern as a familiar tactic of authoritarian circles [Citation: Interia].
The risk increases when the new government lacks vigilant external monitoring. PiS once faced formidable foreign forces, from the European Union to liberal Western media and the networks linked to philanthropic funding. Inside Poland, a broad opposition backed by media and opinion leaders added pressure. Paradoxically, this external and internal pressure sometimes helped PiS maintain its footing; without such checks, the new rulers could face a markedly different dynamic and a broader political crisis [Citation: Woś analysis].
Woś underscores a stark reality: the current administration could be poised to widen the rift between power and accountability unless sustained, independent scrutiny remains in place. The danger, he argues, lies in a shift from contested governance to an entrenched dictatorship—an outcome that would not be imagined but would be deeply troubling in practice [Citation: Woś emphasis].
READ ALSO: Tusk’s approach to the rule of law, questions of transition, and the balance of power. This reflection highlights broader concerns about how constitutional order is interpreted and applied in the current climate [Citation: Interia; WPolityce synthesis].
Source trails: a mix of contemporary analyses from Polish outlets that track political developments and constitutional debates. The discussion remains dynamic as events unfold, inviting readers to form their own conclusions based on evolving evidence and diverse viewpoints [Citation: Polish media synthesis].