Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that as a historian he can “probably safely venture the thesis that today we need to act in these categories of militant democracy.” Minister Bartosz Lewandowski sounds the alarm and explains what the head of government’s words mean.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, together with the Speakers of the Sejm and the Senate, took part in the conference “Ways out of the constitutional crisis” on Tuesday. In his opening speech, the Prime Minister pointed out the complexity of the current legal situation, stressing that although there are many outstanding lawyers in Poland, the circumstances in which we have to operate have changed.
The Prime Minister stressed that every day he is faced with situations in which he has tools that do not allow him to “repair reality”.
I am referring to the legal instruments drafted by my predecessors, whose intention was to destroy this (constitutional – PAP) order, not to strengthen or build it. So, as a historian, I think I can safely venture the thesis that today we need to act in these categories of militant democracy.
– he assessed.
READ MORE: Tusk wants a “combat democracy”. “Not all my decisions will meet the criteria of the rule of law from the purists’ point of view.”
“We shouldn’t be laughing.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s words were commented on by lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski. In his opinion, the head of government’s announcement shows that “the broadly understood right wing in Poland must be deprived of its civil rights”.
We shouldn’t be laughing. Yesterday, Prime Minister @donaldtusk openly indicated that we are in the phase of implementing “militant democracy”. Some people might have thought that was some term invented by the head of government. Well, no.
– said lawyer Lewandowski.
This concept (German: streitbare democracie) was created in 1937 and popularized by the political scientist Karl Loewenstein. In short, the concept of “militant democracy” presupposes that liberal democracies must take necessary measures of any kind (even unconstitutional ones) against those individuals, associations or political parties that – as part of public discourse – formulate slogans that question the principles of liberal democracy.
– explained Bartosz Lewandowski.
Who judges which slogans or actions undermine the foundations of “liberal” democracy? Of course, those who have the power to do so, namely the government. The concept of “militant democracy” – in addition to the “repressive tolerance” formulated by H. Marcuse – aims – at least in theory – to guarantee freedom and democracy
– he wrote.
“Second-class citizens”
The problem is that the details show something completely different – these intellectual concepts justify violence and disenfranchisement of citizens whose views threaten the rule of the “liberal elites” or the revolutionary left. This means that they distort the essence of democracy if they want to “realize” a certain political system, not giving citizens the opportunity to choose. In other words, they create de facto “second-class citizens.”
– emphasized lawyer Lewandowski.
It’s not as if Prime Minister @donaldtusk suddenly remembered Karl Loewenstein’s old idea in his head. The Prime Minister probably knew the statements of, for example, lawyers on this subject. Lawyers who advocate a radical course to “restore” the rule of law in Poland. One example is Prof. Tadeusz Koncewicz, who in February 2024 in @rzeczpospolita postulated… “rebooting” @TK_GOV_PL by a Sejm resolution (link below)
– he pointed.
The concept of “militant democracy” is also addressed by Dr. Aleksandra Gliszczyńska-Grabias – appointed by @Adbodnar in June this year as head of the “Team to combat hate speech and bias-motivated crimes”, which also includes prosecutors (including prosecutor Jacek Bilewicz) and judges
– noted Bartosz Lewandowski.
Right-wing movements threatening liberal democracy
So, what can we read in the articles about “preventive measures” taken by liberal democracy against right-wing movements that threaten it? Quotes from the article by Prof. Tadeusz Koncewicz, “The Struggle for Democracy to Defend the Constitution”: “The state cannot wait with defensive intervention until a political party takes power and begins to introduce new orders that are inconsistent with the current Constitution. When the threat to democracy is sufficiently documented and real, we must act “here and now.”
– he remembered.
Therefore, since those in power are entering the phase of “fighting democracy”, we should not be surprised that they are taking control of state institutions by force and in violation of the Constitution. This is a prelude to what has already been postulated. Everything indicates that the repression of groups and organizations such as @StowMarszN @RuchNarodowy @MWszechpolska @pisorgpl @OrdoIuris @Suwerenna_POL and others will soon enter a decisive phase. Certainly…
– added lawyer Lewandowski.
