Last Friday, Bronisław Komorowski was officially sworn in as Poland’s next president. Even though the campaign is over, political mudslinging and party animosity continues, as demonstrated by recent clashes over a cross erected in front of the presidential palace to commemorate the plane crash that killed President Kaczyński, First Lady Maria Kaczyńska and 94 others.

Having benefited from Poland’s ability to withstand the worst of the global financial crisis, Civic Platform (PO) and President Komorowski campaigned on the promise of a modern, competent government and continued economic and structural reforms. One of the main arguments against voting for Jarosław Kaczyński and PiS was that critical legislative proposals would risk being vetoed, and therefore, stifle Poland’s economic recovery and social development.

Now that Mr Komorowski is president, all eyes will be on PO and their ability to successfully tackle Poland’s major challenges, including the rising deficit, unemployment, tax reform, social transfers and economic competitiveness. The government’s response to recent floods in southern Poland, and especially its ability to assist (and compensate) flood victims, will also determine the government’s capacity and credibility for crisis management. This summer’s floods have caused approximately €2.9 billion in damage and affected over a quarter of a million inhabitants. In addition, thousands of kilometers of regional and local roads (including bridges) have been destroyed, adding to Poland’s long-standing infrastructure woes. Let’s not forget the Euro 2012 soccer championship is just around the corner.

More importantly, the Komorowski victory will be a major test for PO before parliamentary elections take place in October 2011. On the one hand real tangible reforms cannot come without austerity measures and some social pain, as evidenced throughout Europe. On the other, the Polish electorates’ tolerance for additional public-spending cuts and growing financial burdens is waning.

In both cases, inaction risks tarnishing PO’s reform credentials. If President Komorowski fails voters’ expectations, this will only embolden PiS and draw new supporters. The August break will soon be over and it will be time to get to work. PO’s plate already looks full.

 

As Poland's presidential race reaches its climax this weekend, much has been said about the country's political divide. Many suggest that voters are deeply split over the direction Poland should take, with debates centered on whether Poland should be "modern" or traditional, eucentric or independent, secular or religious. Equally, both Polish and foreign media has played up the socio-economic differences between voters. In some cases the media has pitted urban against rural, free market beneficiaries against post-transition losers, young against old.

Interestingly, Poland's political divide is also felt across the Atlantic. The Polish diaspora in the US and Canada, numbering approximately 12 million, voted overwhelmingly for Jarosław Kaczyński in the first round. Many are conservative and fled Poland after 1945 due to their anti-communist beliefs and continue to feel resentment towards the embedded remnants of the former Party system. Most felt Kaczyński was the better candidate to represent Poland and preserve its national interests. This has angered some who question the validity and right of those living outside Poland (most on a permanent basis) to vote on its future political leadership.

These internal divisions create unnecessary noise, and mean participants miss the bigger picture. Poles have an enormous amount to gain and lose in this election. Amid the personal jabs and political squabbles there are difficult policy choices on the horizon, related to: public debt, national security, EU relations and euro adoption, energy policy, the economy, pensions, healthcare and education reform. They will affect each and every citizen across the political spectrum for years (perhaps generations) to come.

It is imperative that Polish voters show some sophistication and vote on the substantive issues, the candidates' platforms and ultimately for the candidate that will help lead Poland into a more secure and prosperous future. I am sure at least on this point we can all agree.

Against the backdrop of a global economic recession, risk averse capital markets and a pan-European debt crisis, Poland has forged ahead with its planned privatization programs. The intended goal is not only to open up some of Poland's largest sectors (energy, chemicals, and financial services) to competition, but to make Poland a sustainable and truly modern post-communist economy.

In addition to developing "national champions," one major factor that will contribute to Poland's long-term economic success is supporting and nurturing small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

One organization determined to help young Polish entrepreneurs break through not only nationally, but in the international arena is Academic Business Incubators (ABI). ABI is part of the greater ABI Group, a network of institutions working to develop the idea of entrepreneurship in Poland. Since its inception in 2004, the ABI has over 1,100 developing companies operating within their framework. They possess 40 business centers throughout Poland, providing physical infrastructure, mentorship, legal, and professional business consulting services for young entrepreneurs looking to launch a start-up as well as teaching entrepreneurship classes at several Polish universities.

One of ABI chairman Dariusz Żuk's major goals is to improve Poland's international branding and showcase its potential as a place for high-tech start-ups and top notch talent. Hopefully, the Polish government will take notice and take a stronger role in positioning the country as a land of educated and innovative entrepreneurs. Having avoided a major economic disaster, now is the time for Poland to take advantage of existing opportunities. This means improving Poland's education infrastructure, attracting capital and providing funding (in the form of grants) for business investment.

As the Shanghai 2010 Expo has demonstrated, competition to attract global business and investment is increasingly fierce. This is especially true among struggling (and increasingly nationalistic) European economies hoping to expand their footprint into Asia and other emerging markets. Unlike past market booms and bubbles, investing in Poland's young start-ups and human capital, is one investment surely to bring positive returns.

As Europe's Finance Ministers worked around the clock to finalize a bailout package for Greece, their goal was not only to avoid Greek insolvency, but also to prevent further fractures within the eurozone and even the European Union.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, European Parliamentary President Jerzy Buzek was on a six-day public outreach tour in Washington DC to build stronger relations and legislative partnerships between the United States and Europe.

His visit included several top level meetings with US Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

It also included remarks before the US Chamber of Commerce as well as the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. The climax of the trip, however, was the opening of the EU Parliament's new liaison office in Washington DC, the first outside of Europe, in the hopes of creating closer cooperation (and understanding) of the EU and its institutions between US members of Congress and their staff.

But when it comes to invigorating US-EU relations is Brussels trapped down a one way street? When President Obama came into office he quickly sought to mend fences with many of Europe's leaders.

Once successful, engagement with Europe had fallen low on his agenda. Case in point, he skipped the 70th anniversary commemoration of World War II in Gdansk and announced he would not attend the EU-US Summit scheduled for May in Madrid.

That said, bringing greater EU visibility to Washington DC is necessary. What will give it greater credibility, however, is actually presenting a more unified European policy platform, whether it be on energy security, Russia policy, financial regulation (ie. US investment banks in Europe) and international security (ie. Afghanistan and Iran) to their counterparts in the US Congress.

Strong EU leadership and partnership will be critical to the Obama administration's success of addressing current global challenges and meeting foreign policy objectives.

For Poles, having EU representatives lobby on behalf of extending visa free travel to the US would also be a welcome sign of EU solidarity. Currently, four other EU members, including Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria are also denied this privilege.

With Greece in turmoil, sovereign credit ratings dropping throughout the EU's southern periphery, risk of adverse affects of Europe's contagion on US recovery and a growing backlash against Goldman Sachs in Europe, President Buzek's timely visit, may just have been the boost that EU-US relations needed.

As the Polish nation mourns the tragic death of President Kaczynski, First Lady Kaczynska and 96 other Polish dignitaries, the implications of this traumatic event on Poland’s psyche, political landscape and upcoming elections have already made their way into the public discourse.

As relevant as these questions may be, it is equally important for us Poles to take a step back and truly examine the lives and sacrifices of those who perished in Smolensk, on their way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyń massacre.

In addition to the president, first lady and several high ranking military, political and religious leaders the ill-fated Tupolev carried heroes like Anna Walentynowicz, the spark plug that started the Solidarity movement, Czesław Cywinski, President of the Association of the Former Polish Resistance, and Ryszard Kaczorowski, Poland’s last President in Exile. At 80 and 90 years of age, they not only represented Poland’s moral and historic conscience, but were key members of a “greatest” generation who sadly continue to leave us (along with their memories, eye-witness accounts and reflections).

At a time when historic revisionism has surfaced in Russia, Germany, the United States and even Poland, it is critical that we properly study our nation’s past, preserve it and most importantly educate future generations. Case in point, over the last year, due to sheer ignorance or perhaps outright disdain for Poland, columnists in mainstream media outlets like the UK’s Guardian and the Washington Post keep referring to “Polish concentration camps” (rather than German or Nazi) when writing about the Holocaust.

This is all the more necessary as a new generation of Poles grows up knowing little about WWII and whose only recollection of Communism is via history text books or occasional family anecdotes. For many outside of Poland, Saturday’s crash was the first time they ever even heard of Katyń or the massacres that took place there in 1940. This does not mean we should dwell on the sins of Fascism, Stalinism or communism, but simply to acknowledge their existence, perpetrators and profiteers. How else can we learn and move Poland forward?

One of President Kaczynski’s lasting legacies will be his commitment to preserve the memory of those lost during WWII and honor the victims of Katyń and communist oppression on an international scale. Importantly, it aroused a sense of national consciousness. As Mayor of Warsaw, he was instrumental in establishing the Warsaw Uprising Museum, the Communism Museum and the close to completed Museum of Polish Jewry.

Once our grief has subsided, all Poles, but especially the younger generation need, to step up and take a more active (and leadership) role in Poland’s political life. After all, they will be the stewards of Poland’s future. Being cognizant of Poland’s past not only enables future generations to build trust and forge new partnerships with our neighbors, but also strengthens the commitment to shared values upon which a united Europe was founded. We cannot expect others to respect our history, unless we respect and honor it ourselves. That is the greatest living tribute we can give to honor those that died.