Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa (WNPiDz)/Faculty of Political Science and Journalism
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Browsing Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa (WNPiDz)/Faculty of Political Science and Journalism by Author "Bäcker, Roman"
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Item Electoral Laws during the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Tool of Quasi-Militant Democracies: Comparative Perspective(Brill, 2023) Rak, Joanna; Bäcker, RomanCovid-19-driven post-communist states face strong authoritarian tendencies, but also their empowered political nations efficiently act against anti-democratic actors’ actions. This study explores the use of electoral laws in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria as a political tool and its influence on the sovereignty of the political nations. Embedded in the theory of neo- and quasi-militant democracy, it aims to explain to what extent the electoral laws adopted or proposed for adoption during the Covid-19 pandemic reduced the scope of the sovereignty of the political nations. The relationships between the legal changes and the sovereignty are analysed with qualitative source analysis and reflexive thematic analysis. As the analysis of themes across the attempts to shape the sovereignty of the political nations shows, changes to the electoral laws were introduced in a hurry, in the privacy of ministerial offices, and without social consultation. Such a way of proceeding stemmed from the need to change the law as soon as possible and thus avoid or reduce the resistance from the political opposition, other centres of public authority, and non-governmental organisations. In Poland, holding elections according to the law that was no longer in force meant that Poland became a prerogative state to an even greater extent than before. The Hungarian ruling party achieved a parliamentary majority by appropriate changes to the electoral law and holding a referendum, i.e., a classic tool for gaining support by autocratic leaders. The Romanian government could not amend the electoral law under the procedures in force in the rule of law. The attempts to undermine the sovereignty of the Romanian political nation failed. Also, the Bulgarian parliament introduced insignificant changes to the electoral law that did not influence the Bulgarian political nation’s decision-making freedom.Item Enforcement of Equality before the Law in Poland during the Coronavirus Pandemic(Routledge, 2024-08-30) Rak, Joanna; Bäcker, RomanOn 12 March 2020, the government declared the state of the epidemic in Poland. A day later, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki informed about the ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people. On 24 March 2020, the government introduced severe constraints on freedom of movement. Citizens could leave their houses only in duly justified circumstances, such as going to work or buying food. The police began controlling pedestrians and drivers to verify whether their movement was justified. All economic and social restrictions resulted in an almost complete lockdown. However, the public administration has gradually lifted the restrictions since mid-April. The will for social survival and the ruling party's determination to secure the re-election of Andrzej Duda in the presidential elections appeared to be stronger than a fear of infection and readiness to respect civil rights. The presidential elections (the first round on 28 June and the second round on 12 July 2020), held in an atmosphere of no epidemiological threats, ended Poland's first pandemic wave.