In the previous term of the European Parliament, the
PiS didn't join the European People's Party group, despite the fact that the latter is comprised by members of Christian Democrat and popular parties from other EU countries and the PiS has always stressed its Christian and popular roots. Instead, together with the populist Self-Defence, PiS deputies joined the rather insignificant Union for Europe of the Nations in which, alongside the Italian neo-fascists, they played first violin.
Now they've struck a deal with the British Conservatives and together formed a grouping called European Conservatives and Reformists.
At first sight, this is an interesting move. It allows the PiS to get rid in Europe of its image of an extremist, marginal party. But there's also trouble. Besides their, differently construed, euroscepticism, the two parties have little in common. The Conservative Party doesn't disavow the legacy of its former leader, Margaret Thatcher, who fought labour unions and liberalised the economy. The PiS has close ties with Solidarity and stands for 'social Poland' against a 'liberal' one.
The Conservatives want the EU farming policy overhauled and direct subsidies reduced. The PiS would rather see the subsidies increased.
The Conservatives want the EU to have less power, while the PiS believes that in many areas Europe should become more closely integrated.
As if that were not enough, the first squabble took place on personal grounds. The group elected the PiS's Michał Kamiński as its leader. Mr Kamiński got the job in return for the 'treason' of Conservative leader Edward McMillan-Scott, who ran against the Pole for the office of the parliament's vice-president. And won.
On the surface, the whole thing may look like the PiS's great success. But in the UK screening has begun. The press is reporting that Mr Kamiński was a member once of the neo-fascist National Rebirth of Poland (NOP) party, that in 1999 he was among the group of politicians who presented a commemorative breastplate to Gen Pinochet, then standing trial in Britain before the House of Lords. The derisive language Mr Kamiński uses with respect to homosexual people ('fags') has come under close scrutiny.
What in Britain disqualifies a politician, in Poland is considered good sense of humour. Mr Kamiński, deemed a 'progressive' in the PiS, is too conservative for the British conservatives, at least in the delicate matters of political correctness.
Now Mr Kamiński has found himself between the devil and the deep blue sea. To become credible in the eyes of the British public, which is demanding that the Conservatives sever their alliance with the PiS, he should be stressing his tolerance, well, even sympathy for gay people and his aversion towards nationalism and intolerance. But that will put him at odds with his fellow party members.
In any case, the Conservatives' alliance with the PiS looks rather unfeasible in the long term. In the past, the PiS had problems communicating with other groupings in the European Parliament.
Perhaps the PiS simply doesn't fit Europe too well.
Translated by Marcin Wawrzyńczak
