Sukces wyborczy i polityka rządu Prawa i Sprawiedliwości w opiniach wybranych kategorii mieszkańców Podkarpacia
Determinants of electoral success and evaluation of the government of Prawo i Sprawiedliwość [Law and Justice] Party by the inhabitants of Podkarpackie

Summary/Abstract: In the politics of European countries at the turn of the 21st century, socially supported populist and right-wing parties take advantage of dissatisfaction with the policies pursued by the political elites. The aim of the article is to analyse the reasons for the victory of the Law and Justice party in the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2015, to examine the arguments supporting the policy of the government formed by this party and to characterise the effects of the actions of the PiS government undertaken in its first term, according to the opinions of selected categories of inhabitants of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Public opinion on the policy pursued by PiS was interpreted in terms of populism. The article argues that the populist strategy of the PiS party is grounded in the opinions of selected social circles in Podkarpackie, justifying the winning election campaign, public support of the government and a positive assessment of the effects of the government’s decisions in the first term. In order to verify the thesis, empirical field research was carried out in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship using the interview technique with a scenario. The interview questionnaire contained open questions. The selection of the sample for qualitative research was intentional. Representatives of students, local government officials, working people, and retirees were selected as respondents. The presented results of original research carried out in Podkarpackie showed the determinants of the electoral success of the Law and Justice party and the current assessment of its power in the country. They provide positive arguments by supporters of the PiS policy and negative arguments by its opponents. Supporters from all surveyed categories appreciated the pro-social policy and positive changes in the economy. On the other hand, the counter-arguments of opponents from all the surveyed categories, discrediting the way right-wing politicians act and the effects of the work of the legislative and executive authorities, concerned dictatorial rule and the destruction of the rule of law. Representatives of the surveyed categories, in the typology referring to the assessment of the activities of the PiS government in the first term put forward more negative arguments than positive ones.

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