Poland

Polish Snap Elections Not Likely

Warsaw, Poland September 23, 2006. Though constantly mentioned and constantly threatened, snap elections in Poland are not likely. Snap elections in Poland would result in the elimination of many Polish politicians from their positions in Poland's Parliament. And because of self-interest, they will vote against any introduction of any legislation that would cause the holding of early elections. Likewise they will approve a budget in order to avoid early elections.

The concept of snap elections makes great headlines and gives Polish politicians the opportunity for many appearances on radio talk shows and television programs. But this is all political posturing and little more.

Elections in the current climate would result in the elimination of the League of Polish Families, the Peasants' Party, and the new group just split off from Samoobrona that is forming its own independent parliamentary club.

New elections might also result in the elimination of the Samoobrona party leader, Andrzej Lepper, from Polish politics.

Because self-interest will prevail, these groups will find a way to avoid early elections and to have the budget approved.

The threats still have a practical effect, however, in that they give the Law and Justice Party, which is currently the majority party in the Polish Parliament, leverage over all the bit players who could be eliminated should elections take place. So they will go on.

And the bit players will listen because they know that they have to listen to survive.

But there will be no elections.