Corona & Democracy - Poland

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

• Borders are closed until May 3
• Entry only for polish people or non-polish people with special permission
• Anyone entitled to enter Poland will be required to self-isolate on arrival for 14 days
• All non-essential movements are banned

Update 28 May: Strict border control remains in place until 12 June.

5 June:

• Poland will open border with Baltic states as of June 12

6 June:

• Poland will extend the ban on international flights until June 16

8 June:

• Poland will not introduce new restrictions despite a spike in coronavirus infections

• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/poland/coronavirus
• https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-coronavirus-lockdown-measures-compared/
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-poland-borders/poland-to-keep-borders-closed-for-foreigners-until-june-12-
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-baltic-poland/poland-to-open-borders-with-baltic-states-next-week-lithuania-says-idUSKBN23C1M8
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-poland-flights/poland-to-extend-ban-on-international-flights-to-june-16-idUSKBN23D0CE
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-restrictions/poland-plans-no-new-restrictions-despite-hike-in-coronavirus-infections-idUSKBN23F0J4

• Elections on May 10 will take place, but only through postal voting (change of electoral law)
• Opposition boycotts elections und completely suspended the campaign due to overnight change of the electoral law by the polish government

• Polish Senate passed an election bill, enabling the presidential election to take place in June, with the ruling party (PiS) stating June 28 would be the last possible date in order to have a head of state in place before the current president's term ends.

4 June:

• The ruling party wins a confidence vote, though no date for the presidential elections still has been announced.

• https://www.idea.int/news-media/multimedia-reports/global-overview-covid-19-impact-elections
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/apr/01/coronavirus-contaminating-europe-democracy-viktor-orban-seize-more-power
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-poland-election/polish-presidential-challenger-urges-boycott-of-may-vote-halts-campaign-idUSKBN21G0NQ
• https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/15/first-hungary-now-poland-time-for-europeans-to-speak-out-against-covid-19-power-grabs-view
• https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/147884
• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/world/europe/poland-presidential-election-coronavirus.html
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-senate/polish-senate-passes-election-bill-setting-stage-for-june-vote-idUSKBN2383U3
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election/polish-government-wins-confidence-vote-before-presidential-election-idUSKBN23B1KJ

• Public gatherings are prohibited, all events incl. demonstration or electoral campaign actions are banned
• Obligation to wear a face mask

• https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-coronavirus-lockdown-measures-compared/
• https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus/temporary-limitations

• Usage of tracking app by police and military
• Citizens in quarantine are obliged to use the app to send pictures of their quarantine status to the authorities

• https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/31/could-the-coronavirus-pandemic-lead-to-mass-surveillance-in-europe

• no information available

• Emergency powers are not yet declared, because this would force the postponement of the election on May 10

• https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_poland_politics_in_a_time_of_corona

• Info page Government: https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus