Current Issues in Constitutional and Electoral Law in the Republic of Poland

Aim. To present the array of reforms to the constitutional, electoral, and referendum law in the Republic of Poland since 2015 and to reveal to the Russian legal community the existing legal landscape in the light of the upcoming national elections in 2023 for both houses of parliament in the Republic of Poland – the Sejm and the Senate – which could result in significant constitutional and political events, includ­ing changes in the fundamental structure of the constitution. To reveal to Russian legal scholars the deliberative, systematic, and consistent changes in the constitutional and legal fields of the Republic of Poland and in the area of electoral law and referendum rights with a specific goal in the form of Poland’s national liberation struggle for independence from the European Union.  

Methodology. A large volume of relevant modern legal literature was examined, comprising around 60 sources, some of which are unknown to the Russian scientific community and are being introduced for the first time. The research methodology is based on a combination of general scientific and specific legal methods, particularly the systematic method, analysis, synthesis, generalization, and forecasting. The formal-legal method was also used to analyze the normative legal acts of the Republic of Poland, while a comparative approach was employed in analyzing Polish and Russian sources. The historical-legal method allowed for the examination of the beginning and development of the novelties in Poland’s constitutional and electoral legislation in chronological order, taking into account modern peculiarities, and to forecast their future outcomes.  

Results. Having disclosed in chronological order the changes in the constitutional and electoral legis­lation of the Republic, the absence of chaotic, fragmentary, “short-sightedness” in the actions of the Polish legislator and the presence of a deep legal understanding of the ongoing reforms were proved. It was proposed to consider the novelization of the electoral law and the right of referendum of Poland together with the reforms of the constitutional law of the Republic, because they represent, on the one hand, a legal institution, and, on the other hand, a legal instrument of implementation of the ongoing changes united by a common goal.  

Research implications. The scientific novelty of the study lies in anticipating the probable victory of conservative forces represented by the PiS political party or its coalition, which would enable them to obtain a constitutional majority of votes in the upcoming national parliamentary elections in 2023. This is likely to put an end to the constitutional crisis by adopting amendments to the Republic’s Constitution but make the political vector of the country’s development unpredictable.

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