WARSAW — The conventional wisdom about European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen’s confirmation by the European Parliament this month is that central and eastern European populists pushed her over the line. That is wrong.

WARSAW — Donald Tusk‘s term as president of the European Council will end on 30 November, which is perfect timing for the Polish opposition.

WARSAW — Following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, a group of young Polish activists and artists donned T-shirts that read: “I did not cry for the Pope.” At a time of seemingly obligatory national mourning, it was the kind of provocative act that can only happen in a free

WARSAW — There have never been more populist governments in place than today. Until now, populists have not been voted out of power in any Western country.

BERLIN — An old joke among non-Americans is that they, too, deserve a vote in US presidential elections, given how central that office is to their lives.

WARSAW — Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) Party has finally taken steps to comply with a European Court of Justice (ECJ) decree ordering it to reverse some of the judicial “reforms” that took effect in July.

BERLIN — Divisions within Germany’s ruling coalition over refugees have started to jeopardise Chancellor Angela Merkel’s control of the government.

BERLIN — Because populism is not an ideology in itself, it can easily appeal to mainstream political parties seeking to shore up flagging electoral support.