Poland: A change so good, it makes you want to cry

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Series Details 29.03.16
Publication Date 29/03/2016
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Poland’s Law and Justice government, which came to power in October 2015, has carried out a number of reforms which have attracted international attention, notably judicial and media reforms which have been the subject of an inquiry by the European Commission.

Magdalena Mikulak argues that the government’s vision of change has left little room for alternative views and values, noting that there are now legitimate concerns about the effects of these reforms on Polish society and women in particular.

Thousands of people marched on 3 April 2016 in Poland's capital Warsaw against proposals to tighten the country's already restrictive abortion laws. Poland's Bishops and Prime Minister Beata Szydło had lent their support to a petition for a referendum on a general ban on the termination of pregnancies.

However, another part of the new Polish government's programme was proving popular. Over 110,000 applications had been filed within one day following the launch on the 1 April 2016 of a new child benefit programme aimed at raising Poland's birth rate.

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Related Links
ESO: Background information: Polish parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-parliamentary-election-2015/
ESO: Background information: Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal rules against swathe of legal changes / Stand-off over Polish court ruling intensifies / Poland should settle its constitutional crisis by respecting judgements of its Constitutional Tribunal: Venice Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/polands-constitutional-tribunal-rules-against-swathe-of-legal-changes-stand-off-over-polish-court-ruling-intensifies-poland-should-settle-its-constitutional-crisis-by-respecting-judgement/
ESO: Background information: Poland at odds over child benefits http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-at-odds-over-child-benefits/
ESO: Background information: Polish president signs controversial media bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-president-signs-controversial-media-bill/
Radio Poland, 02.04.16: Poles swift to sign up for watershed child benefit programme http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/247097,Poles-swift-to-sign-up-for-watershed-child-benefit-programme
ESO: Background information: Poles protest against proposed abortion ban http://www.europeansources.info/record/poles-protest-against-proposed-abortion-ban/

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