Radoslaw Sikorski: D Ermany has made Kaczyński so strong

Radosław Sikorski was the Polish foreign minister until 2014. The opposition politician explains what must happen so that his country does not continue to radicalized.

Radoslaw Sikorski:  D Ermany has made Kaczyński so strong
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  • Page 1 — "Germany has made Kaczyński so strong"
  • Page 2 — "I would advise German to use Brexit"
  • Page 3 — "The social reforms of PiS cannot afford Poland"
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    Time Online: Mr Sikorski, Polish policy is characterised by great Veränderungenab. It could be that cabinet of government forcing Beata Szydło, Poland's prime minister, is about to lose its position in near future. Stattdessenkönnte Jarosław Kaczyński, head of national-Conservative government party Law and Justice (PiS), take over scepter. This repositioning result of an internal power struggle?

    Radosław Sikorski: I think it normal that re will be changes in half of legislature. The ruling party is already thinking about next elections and is examining denKader. It would also be normal and perhaps even desirable for head of Polish government party, i.e. Kaczyński, to übernehmenwürde ministerial post. Perhaps this would result in better government work. Außerdemwäre Kaczyński n legally and politically responsible for his actions. This is not case at moment.

    Time Online: You answer very diplomatically. So re is no quarrel in PiS?

    Sikorski: In each party re is quarrel! Laughs)

    Radosław Sikorski

    Born 1963, is a policy consultant and journalist. 1986 to 1989, Sikorski worked as a foreign correspondent for "Spectator" and "observer" in Afghanistan, Angola and Yugoslavia. For one of his photographs, 1987 was awarded World Press Photo award. 1990 to 1991, he was Poland correspondent for Sunday Telegraph. Sikorski is married to American historian and Pulitzer laureate Anne Applebaum. From 2007 to 2014 he was Poland's foreign minister under Government of Donald Tusk.

    Time Online: and specifically related to PiS – can internal dispute in ruling party derOpposition help?

    Sikorski: In Poland re are two camps: National Konservativeund Proeuropean. Both camps have same chances on EinenWahlsieg. The land is divided. The opposition can only win if you toger.

    Time Online: Do you think it's going to happen? Right now, it doesn't look like it. None of opposition parties wants to agree on a leader.

    Sikorski: We have to be patient. The opposition is just about to recover from last election setback. The first test will be upcoming regional elections. Inpoland starts an election marathon: in one year regional elections take place, half a year later European, six months later DieParlamentswahlen, and after that we have presidential elections. Only n we know wher opposition has found solutions. The German not forget: The PiS has won last elections with a very moderate, unpopulist electoral program. It was more similar to CDU electoral program than AfD.

    Time Online: Are you saying that in Germany we should compare PiS-Parteinicht with AfD?

    Sikorski: No, that's my I. I'm just saying that PiS election campaign of 2015 was moderate. Of course, political reality after election victory looked quite different.

    Time Online: It may be that majority of Poles advocate a moderate, little konfrontativeRegierungspolitik. Neverless, electorate has seldom reacted with protest when PiS has pushed through controversial decisions: for example, dismissal of constitutional courts. It was not until Kaczynskis attempt to subordinate all dishes to ruling party that re were protests in July. The population's backing is still great, it is 40 percent. Don't you wonder?

    Sikorski: There is a Bisschenauf perspective. Do not underestimate electorate. My party, Civic Platform Po, had, when it was in power, in meantime, a backing of 60Prozent. After all, we lost elections anyway. The Istnormal in politics: Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Still bounced decided.

    Time Online: You seem to be very serene. In West, re is hingegengroße concern – concern that Poland is transformed into an authoritarian state. Do you see that differently?

    Date Of Update: 30 October 2017, 12:03
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