Investor Guide to Poland’s Election: Populists Stay or a U-Turn?

  • EU funds, central bank policy stance, budget at stake in vote
  • Zloty, stocks rally this week on bets for opposition victory

Law and Justice party supporters holding a Polish national flag banner watch an election debate on a screen outside the ATM studio in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 9.

Photographer: Damian Lemański/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Poland’s general election on Sunday will determine the fate of its eight-year populist drift away from the European mainstream, which if ended may boost the country’s financial assets.

While most opinion polls suggest the ruling Law & Justice party is in the driver’s seat to retain power, some surveys show the opposition might have the edge. That’s a rosy scenario for markets as Polish stocks have had very poor returns, compared to their emerging markets counterparts, during the current government’s two terms in power.