Opinion: Democratically Elected Conservatives Attacked in US and Poland

The international liberal establishment and media complex miss no opportunity to criticize conservative governments wherever they have been popularly elected. In Europe this takes the form of relentless attacks by the left on the most recent democratically elected governments in Poland and Hungary, which won decisive victories over the socialist old guard in their countries. In the U.S., the left-wing American media has sought to undermine the legitimacy of the new Trump administration before it even takes office.

In Poland this effort to erode the credibility of a popularly elected government has taken a particularly dangerous turn. The disingenuously named “Committee for the Defense of Democracy” (KOD) aims to play havoc with democratic institutions and Polish rule of law.

For many in the KOD, Western democracy is not a true democracy. They believe that only revolutionary violence can restore freedom. In the United States during the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King stressed Gandhi’s teaching of peaceful protest. But just as there were extremists in the U.S. who chose violence as a method of change, Polish extremists today pose a similar threat to democratic institutions.

Their ominous sentiments are exemplified by KOD activist Janusz Kijowski’s proclamation, “It seems to me that without some sort of revolt, perhaps bloody, without civil war, and perhaps even war in Europe, reason will not return. Today, people vote for idiots.”

The KOD takes aim not only at Poland’s political institutions, but at its venerated religious institutions as well. Notwithstanding the fact that the Catholic Church in Poland recently proved its enduring popularity, attracting three million pilgrims to the 2016 Youth Day, KOD leader Mateusz Kijowski declared, “[The Roman Catholic Church in Poland] supports anti-Christian values. To be honest, one could say that the Church in Poland fights with the words of Jesus Christ.”

Attempting to undermine Polish society by attacking the Church follows the Soviet playbook. Through the skillful utilization of information warfare, the current anti-democratic Russian regime spreads disinformation against Poland and its Ministry of National Defense. KOD works hand-in-hand with the Kremlin propaganda system on this disinformation campaign. It is worth noting that the same left-wing old guard in Europe that criticizes conservative governments at every turn never sees fit to question the motives or methods of these extremist, anti-democratic elements.

Poland’s government, and its Minister of National Defense Antoni Macierewicz in particular, understands that the most critical part of Poland's strength is its own national unity. He knows that his success in ensuring Poland's security is based on his national defense strategy, which leverages the strength of every citizen.

Let us hope that the positive role of a loyal opposition in Poland, respecting democratic elections, processes, and norms, is not tarnished by the actions of those who would turn back the clock on democracy and freedom.

Edmund Janniger is the Assistant (voluntary) to the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland.