Poland's politics and emigrants

[mtbc]

From my distant view as an outsider it seems that nationalist, authoritarian forces appear to hold sway in Poland. There are enough emigrants from Poland in Britain and perhaps elsewhere that I wondered if Polish domestic politics somewhat disproportionately reflects the kind of Pole who does not tend to emigrate. I would guess that our British Poles may still vote but perhaps it is more inconvenient for them to do so from afar; indeed, perhaps some feel less morally inclined to if they have become distant from their country of origin. Especially in the case of British citizens it is rather more awkward to register as an overseas voter than as a domestic one. If a few percent of Poles live outside their native country then such a difference may well have some significant effect on Polish politics, though perhaps not enough to have much changed the outcome of their latest parliamentary election.