Poland Archives - VSQUARE.ORG

The Wrocław rouges

Adam Hofman was once an influential politician, a member of PiS, Poland’s current ruling party, and now is one of the most recognisable figures in the country’s PR sector. His PR agency R4S skilfully positioned itself where the spheres of politics and business meet.

VSquare

01.06.2021

The ‘Far-Right International’: Genuine coalition prospects or media stunt?

EU, PiS, right wing, Viktor Orban

Hungary's PM Orban, Poland's PM Morawiecki and Italy's League party leader Salvini meet in Budapest

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (C), Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (L) and Italy's League party leader Matteo Salvini (R) give a statement after their meeting in Budapest, Hungary, April 1, 2021. Source: BERNADETT SZABO / Reuters / Forum

The pandemic did not kill the far right. Nor did it stifle media interest in the topic. The painstaking attention devoted to the formation of a ‘Far-Right International’ revolving around the Hungarian Fidesz, the Italian League, and the Polish Law and Justice (PiS) parties is a good case in point.

VSquare

28.05.2021

RSF: The dismal state of press freedom in V4 countries

media, media freedom

Scratched,Paper,Texture,,Old,Newspaper,Background

Source: Here/Shutterstock

In three of the Visegrad Four countries – Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – press freedom is in decline, according to the World Press Freedom Index 2021 published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

VSquare

21.04.2021

Privet, you have just been hacked

cyber security, Russia, trolls

Source: KDdesignphoto/Shutterstock

For months now, someone has been hacking into the email and social media accounts used by Polish ministers, MPs, journalists and soldiers. What do these attacks have in common?

Anna Gielewska

Konrad Szczygieł

30.03.2021

Russian and Chinese vaccine diplomacy at work

Chinese influence, disinformation, health care, Russia

Graphics by Lenka Matoušková

Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are once again showing disregard for European solidarity, negotiating deals for Eastern vaccines, even at the price of sparking government crises.

Eva Kubániová

Peter Kapitán

Gabriella Horn

18.03.2021

Ordo Iuris: Diplomacy Task Force

human rights, Ordo Iuris, right wing

Two,Businessmen,Or,Politicians,,Elegant,Clothes,,Shake,Hands,After,Finding

Source: HQuality/Shutterstock.com

As women in Poland stage mass protests against the country’s Constitutional Tribunal’s abortion ruling in the autumn of 2020, Angela Gandra, Brazil’s secretary of state for family affairs, arrives in Warsaw.

Konrad Szczygieł

23.02.2021

Szczerek: Three decades of the Visegrad Group

EU, history

Szczyt Szefow Rzadow Panstw Grupy Wyszehradzkiej z okazji 30-lecia Wspolpracy Wyszehradzkiej

Meeting on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Visegrad Declaration with the participation of the President of the European Council. From left: Igor Matovic, Charles Michel, Mateusz Morawiecki, Andrej Babis, Victor Orban. Cracow, Poland, February 17, 2021. Source: Filip Radwanski / FORUM

Visegrad is a slightly ephemeral entity, a quantum-like model and Schrödinger’s cat in one – sometimes it exists, sometimes it does not – it’s hard to tell, really.

VSquare

19.02.2021

How to silence independent media: A lesson from Poland

Hungarian media, media freedom

No,Tv,Signal,On,Retro,Televisor,,Interference,,Television,Noise.

Source: Pr-_Vector/Shuttertock

No, the so-called solidarity tax that has been proposed in Poland is not about supporting the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as the government claims. Instead, it is meant to hit independent media outlets, especially those that have vocally criticized the ruling party.

Anna Gielewska

11.02.2021

How to get the vaccine in the Visegrad: a long way to go

Covid19, health care

Kolejka do rejestracji na szczepienia przeciw COVID-19

Massive queues formed at clinics as Polish seniors tried to register in the vaccination programme. Warsaw, 22 January 2021, Source: Darek Golik/Forum

Too few vaccines, not enough personnel, poor organisation, chaos, and growing disinformation campaigns – all four countries of the Visegrad Group (V4) are struggling with their vaccination programmes

VSquare

22.01.2021

The golden lion roars from Cracow

Catholic church, Ordo Iuris, right wing

TFP logo, a lion on a red background. Source: Reporters Foundation

How can Our Lady of Fatima holy cards distributed in Poland add up to hundreds of thousands of euros that have been invested in a radically conservative organization in Lithuania? Our cross-border investigation.

VSquare

30.12.2020