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PiS chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski stands in front of the Polish national colors displayed on a large screen
Image: Hubert Mathis/ZUMA/dpa/picture allianceImage: Hubert Mathis/ZUMA/dpa/picture alliance

Law and Justice (PiS)

Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc, PiS for short) is a Polish populist, conservative political party founded in 2001. Currently in opposition, it remains one of Poland's most popular parties.

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All Content on this topic

Former PM Donald Tusk is seen at the Sejm, the Polish parliament on May 26, 2023

Poland: Will Donald Tusk be barred from holding office?

President Duda has signed a bill that critics say targets opposition leader Donald Tusk ahead of this autumn's election.
PoliticsMay 31, 2023
Polish lawmakers passing the new law to investigate Russian influence

Poland passes contentious bill to examine Russian influence

The law, backed by the ruling Law and Justice party, is seen as targeting former PM Donald Tusk ahead of key elections.
PoliticsMay 26, 2023
A statue of Pope John Paul II with miter and crosier holding up his hand in blessing, pictured from behind, Warsaw, Poland

Poland: John Paul II abuse cover-up claims divide a nation

A documentary has caused outrage in Poland by alleging that Pope John Paul II covered up clerical sex abuse cases.
PoliticsMarch 15, 2023
A man places a grave light beside a wreath

Did state media drive a teen to suicide in Poland?

State-controlled media in Poland reported that an opposition politician's son had been the victim of child sexual abuse.
PoliticsMarch 10, 2023
Wind turbines tower over homes in the Wojciechow village near Legnica

Poland: Wind power runs out of steam

After a period of unregulated wind power development in Poland, hardly any turbines are being built in the country.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 12, 2023
A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a black bandana as a mask, holds up her right hand in a clenched fist

Outcry in Poland over abortion law

An underage rape victim in Poland was twice denied an abortion, sparking controversy over the country's abortion law.
SocietyFebruary 5, 2023
Mateusz Morawiecki pictured during mass at Wawel Cathedral in June

Poland says Berlin and Paris running EU as an 'oligarchy'

The Polish prime minister has accused Berlin and Paris of not listening enough to weaker EU member states.
PoliticsAugust 16, 2022
A general view of the Polish Supreme Court

Poland vows fiery response over blocked EU funds

Warsaw is threatening to "pull out all the cannons" as the EU blocks billions of euros in pandemic recovery funds.
PoliticsAugust 9, 2022
German opposition leader Friedrich Merz (l) speaks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (r) in an opulent room in Warsaw.

Warsaw is 'not satisfied' with Berlin

The sentiment was expressed by Poland's prime minister, citing Warsaw's frustration over Germany's dithering on Ukraine.
PoliticsJuly 28, 2022
Women's strike in Poland after the ban on eugenic abortion.

In Poland, opposition MPs criticize 'pregnancy register'

Polish health minister recently signed an order that will oblige medics to register all pregnancies in Poland.
SocietyJune 11, 2022
Zloty coin

Poland's tax revolution on the edge

Poland’s shambolic tax reform has seemingy united both left and right against the ruling PiS.
BusinessJanuary 31, 2022
A smartphone which shows the website of Israel's NSO Group, the maker of the Pegasus spyware

Polish leader admits government bought spyware

A senior official admitted the government bought Pegasus spyware, but rejected claims it was used to monitor opponents.
PoliticsJanuary 7, 2022
A smartphone with the website of the NSO Group

Who hacked Poland's opposition?

The phones of opposition lawmakers and a federal prosecutor have been hacked using the Pegasus spyware.
PoliticsJanuary 5, 2022
Euromaxx Pie

As easy as pie: Calum Franklin’s culinary delights

London-based top chef Calum Franklin is giving traditional British pies a gourmet touch.
LifestyleDecember 17, 202106:42 min
Viktor Orban kissing the hand of Marine Le Pen

European populist far-right parties meet in Warsaw

Warsaw hosted figureheads representing some of the most successful attempts to bring fascism back to Europe.
PoliticsDecember 5, 2021
A man holds up a sign saying 'Polish people are with judges' during a protest in Warsaw

EU court rules against Poland in judiciary row

The European Court of Justice ruled that powers wielded by the Polish justice minister are against the EU law.
Law and JusticeNovember 16, 2021
Barbara Wesel Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

Poland-Belarus border crisis points to cynicism, hypocrisy

Barbara Wesel
The EU is helpless in the Poland-Belarus border crisis, which reeks of cynicism and hypocrisy.
MigrationNovember 10, 2021
The ECHR in Strasbourg, France

ECHR orders Poland to compensate judges

The European Court of Human Rights has found Poland denied two judges the right to a fair job nominating process.
Rule of LawNovember 8, 2021
Poles demonstrate in defense of EU membership in Gdansk

Poland vows not to pay any EU court fines

Warsaw has reacted with outrage to the European Court of Justice ruling to impose a daily fine of €1 million.
PoliticsOctober 28, 2021
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrives at the European Parliament in Strasbourg wearing a face mask

EU calls Polish PM out for 'war rhetoric'

The EU has chided Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for using belligerent terms in a row with the EU over rule of law.
PoliticsOctober 25, 2021
A man holds a sign 'Europe don't give up!"

Brussels must address Polish provocations

If Warsaw doesn't want to play by the rules of the European Union, the EU should take decisive action.
PoliticsOctober 23, 2021
Protesters gather near the Polish capital's iconic skyscraper, the Palace of Culture, at a protest demanding abortion rights, in Warsaw, Poland

Poland protests mark one year since abortion ban

Rights groups have asked the European Commission to clamp down on Poland for defying "EU values."
HealthOctober 23, 2021
Mateusz Morawiecki und Ursula von der Leyen

Rule-of-law row with Poland dominates EU leaders' summit

EU leaders are taking the Polish premier to task over a court ruling questioning the supremacy of EU law.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2021
external

Poland's Constitutional Court 'is a marionette court'

European Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley speaks to DW’s Marina Strauss.
PoliticsOctober 19, 202103:03 min
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaking at the European Parliament, sat behind him is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Polish leader blasts EU over rule of law dispute

During a heated debate with EU lawmakers, Polish leader Mateusz Morawiecki defended the sovereignty of EU member states.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2021
A sign at the entrance to Poland's Constitutional Court

Polish court ruling against EU law comes into force

The ruling has been criticized by EU leaders and fueled speculation that Poland may one day leave the bloc.
Law and JusticeOctober 12, 2021
Poland's Constitutional Tribunal building in Warsaw

Poland's top court rules against primacy of EU law

The Constitutional Tribunal said that law out of Warsaw can take precedence over laws coming from Brussels.
Law and JusticeOctober 7, 2021
Jaroslaw Kaczynski

'There will be no Polexit,' says Polish ruling party chief

Jaroslaw Kaczynski ruled out a Poland-European Union divorce following concerns that Warsaw would follow Britain's lead.
PoliticsSeptember 15, 2021
Angela Merkel and Mateusz Morawiecki in Berlin

Merkel in Warsaw: a difficult adieu

Chancellor Merkel is heading to Warsaw for a farewell visit amid worsening political ties between the two nations.
PoliticsSeptember 10, 2021
A full page news paper ad in support of press freedom in August shows the TVN logo with a two-fingered peace sign gesture forming the letter 'V'

Polish Senate votes against broadcast reform

A controversial broadcast reform bill was voted down by the Polish Senate by a 53-37 margin.
Press FreedomSeptember 9, 2021
DW Fokus Europa Polen TVN

Lex TVN heralds loss of press freedom in Poland

Poland's PiS government wants  to force US media group Discovery to sell its majority stake in TVN.
MediaAugust 19, 202105:25 min
external

EU, Poland row over judicial committee

DW met a judge who lost his job because of a ruling by the committee.
Law and JusticeAugust 17, 202103:25 min
The European Commission headquarters in Brussels

EU threatens to fine Poland over judiciary ruling

Warsaw could face financial penalties for disregarding a ruling by the EU's top court.
Law and JusticeJuly 20, 2021
Judges, prosecutors, lawyers and supporters demonstrate in a rally in front of a court in support of judicial independence in Poland.

Poland's disciplining of judges broke EU law, top court says

The EU top court said Poland's disciplinary chamber for judges does not guarantee impartiality and independence.
Law and JusticeJuly 15, 2021
The Polish Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw

Top Poland court rules EU temporary injunctions invalid

Legal observers say a ruling by Poland's Constitutional Tribunal is a step toward undermining EU laws in the country.
Law and JusticeJuly 14, 2021
Donald Tusk stands on a stage at a lectern

Donald Tusk returns to Polish politics

After seven years in Brussels, Poland's ex-prime minister is making a comeback in domestic politics.
PoliticsJuly 5, 2021
Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro

Human rights court rules against Poland's judge sacking

The Polish justice minister fired two regional court heads without explanation or right of appeal.
Law and JusticeJune 29, 2021
DW Dokumentationen Sex als Kulturkampf

Sex as a Cultural Battleground - Poland and the Fight over Sexual Morality

The topic of sexuality has polarized polish society.
PoliticsMarch 29, 202128:36 min
Polish President Andrzej Duda

Polish writer on trial for insulting President Duda

The writer faces three years in jail. But the governing party is pointing out that it didn't write the lese-majeste law.
Law and JusticeMarch 25, 2021
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki talk during their meeting in Budapest

Hungary's Orban teams up with nationalists in Italy, Poland

Hungary's nationalist government plans to reboot right-wing EU politics alongside like-minded allies in Italy and Poland
PoliticsMarch 19, 2021
Katarzyna Domagala-Pereira

Investigating the Holocaust

Katarzyna Domagala-Pereira
Poles do not want to be classed alongside Nazis when it comes to the Holocaust, DW's Katarzyna Domagala-Pereira writes.
Law and JusticeFebruary 10, 2021
A screenshot of the Gazeta Wyborcza blackout banner on its website

Poland: Media offline for 24 hours in protest

Polish news outlets are protesting an advertising tax that critics say authorities will use to undermine press freedom.
Press FreedomFebruary 10, 2021
Pro-choice protesters hold up banners during a protest on January 27, 2021 in Warsaw, Poland. January 27, 2021.

Controversial Polish abortion law goes into effect

Poland's controversial new abortion law went into effect on Wednesday, sparking nationwide protests.
Law and JusticeJanuary 28, 2021
A fuel station of Polish oil firm Orlen

Orlen: The power behind the power in Poland

The Polish government's very own media house is doing very nicely, thank you!
BusinessJanuary 4, 2021
Prostesters march in Warsaw

Poland: Protesters march to PiS leader's home

Polish anti-government protesters have accused the ruling PiS party of looking and more like an authoritarian regime.
PoliticsDecember 13, 2020
Polska Press

PiS-friendly oil firm buys up Polska Press

The purchase of the independent media group by a company partially owned by the government is a concern for dissidents.
Press FreedomDecember 9, 2020
Polen Ryszard Legutko

Ryszard Legutko on Conflict Zone

Is Poland’s government on a path to isolation? DW asks MEP Ryszard Legutko from the ruling Law and Justice Party.
PoliticsNovember 25, 202026:06 min
Protester in Warsaw, with a face mask and waving a flag

Poland's churches become sites of protest

For the first time in Catholic Poland, people are protesting in churches amid discontent over tightened abortion laws.
SocietyOctober 27, 2020
Magdalena Gwozdz-Pallokat

Abortion ruling: Nightmare for Polish women

Magdalena Gwozdz-Pallokat
Poland's political leaders scored big with an anti-abortion ruling — and a new way of controlling women's bodies.
Law and JusticeOctober 23, 2020
Polish Foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz at a press conference

Second Polish minister resigns in a week

Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz has resigned as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, but it comes at an inopportune time.
PoliticsAugust 20, 2020