Leonid Bershidsky, Columnist

EU Election Is Poland’s Referendum on Nationalism

An anti-authoritarian coalition seeks to prevail this week and reverse the march of Hungarian-style illiberalism.

Flag waving. 

Photographer: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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In most of the European Union, this week’s European Parliament election is a low-energy affair. Not in Poland, where the May 26 vote could determine the country’s direction, and Eastern Europe’s, for years to come.

The closely fought contest pits the ruling Law and Justice Party, the nationalist force known by its Polish abbreviation PiS, against five major anti-authoritarian parties and a number of smaller groups calling themselves the European Coalition.