The Challenges for the New Democratic Government in Poland: A Conversation with Dr. Henryka Bochniarz
March 4th, 2024 5:30PM -7:00PM
Poland experienced a significant transformation last year, as voters, particularly women and young people, voted out the populist Law and Justice Party (PiS). The eight-year tenure of the PiS alarmed international observers and intensely divided Polish society as their illiberal reforms saw greater control of the judiciary and media as well as the undermining of individual rights. What are the implications of this win for Poland, European unity, and the West’s effort to confront Russian aggression?
Join the World Affairs Council for a conversation with Dr. Henryka Bochniarz, former Minister of Industry and Trade, as we discuss the challenges the Polish government faces in its efforts to rebuild a liberal democracy after the PiS, which still holds on to some levels of power in Poland.
Make sure to arrive at 5:30 pm to catch up with the World Affairs Council’s members and friends and join us for a glass of wine.
About The Speaker
Henryka Bochniarz is one of the most highly respected women leaders in Poland. In 1991, she held the post of Poland’s Minister of Industry and Trade and was a candidate for the office of the President of Poland in 2005. She is the Founder and Chair of the Polish Confederation Lewiatan, the largest organization of private sector employers in Poland, and served as President of Boeing Central and Eastern Europe from 2006-2015. She has also been a Supervisory Board Member of FCA Poland SA and Orange Polska SA and formerly a Board Director at Unicredit, a financial services company based in Italy. In addition, she is also a Founder of the Congress of Women Poland, the largest social movement in the country, which brings together all types of women for the purpose of spotlighting the contribution made by women to the economic and political transformation of Poland, identifying their most important achievements, and working to increase to the presence of women in the public sphere.
About the Moderator
Caesar Kalinowski IV is a First Amendment and Media Litigator at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Caesar takes an expansive view of his clients' First Amendment and intellectual property rights, regularly defending lawsuits targeting expression, religious practice, and fair use of artistic material. Drawing on his background in global special operations and intelligence collection, Caesar loves working in small teams under demanding circumstances to push back on government overreach. Caesar also regularly litigates issues related to press freedoms and fair reporting on matters of public concern, in addition to championing First Amendment and Section 230 protections for social media platforms and technology providers.
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