Stefan Batory Foundation

In 2006 the Stefan Batory Foundation continued to strengthen and enhance the role of civil society institutions in public life, promote the rule of law and transparency, and pursue projects involving international cooperation, particularly with states outside the borders of the EU. A particular focus was the continuing withdrawal of citizens from public life and growing distrust in democratic institutions, reflected in 2005 by the lowest turnouts ever for Polish parliamentary and presidential elections. The foundation countered public perceptions of politics as only for privileged elites through projects to increase civic participation in public life, involve civil society in policymaking, and make authorities accountable. The foundation also supported initiatives that challenge nationalism and intolerance of immigrants in Poland.

The following briefs describe some of the foundation’s activities and achievements in 2006.

Monitoring Exposes Problems in Campaigns and Public TV Reporting

Local NGOs, monitoring campaigns for municipal office, found that many candidates launched campaigns before the formal start of the campaign season, and many incumbents used municipal funds and resources for partisan political purposes. Governing coalition candidates got 66 percent more speaking time than opposition candidates and 80 percent more coverage on public TV news programs. The initial TV monitoring results prompted more balanced TV coverage of the rest of the campaign.

Constitutional Tribunal Appointees Face Public Scrutiny

A project by the foundation, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights opened to public scrutiny the process of appointing judges. In the past, a small group of parliamentarians elected judges to Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal with no public discussion. Under the new system established by the project, the qualifications and legal opinions of six candidates were circulated to the public, and the candidates answered questions at a public hearing.

Foundation Program Leaves Philanthropies Stronger

With funding from the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe, the foundation’s four-year program helped 18 foundations become sustainable and built local partnerships that provided $7.5 million for local development. The program also leaves a growing culture of philanthropy in Poland. From 2004 to 2006, the number of taxpayers donating 1 percent of their taxes to public-interest organizations nearly doubled to 1.1 million people, generating over $30 million.

Report Helps Ease Border Restrictions

A report on EU border policy helped advocacy efforts to make border procedures less restrictive toward citizens from Eastern Europe and Russia. The foundation presented the report, based on monitoring of practices in 31 EU consulates, at public seminars and to members of the EU parliament and the Polish Foreign Ministry. A number of the report’s recommendations were incorporated into new regulations in the European Visa Policy.

Polish Election Monitoring Finds Abuses in Tajikistan

The foundation cooperated with the Polish Foreign Ministry to recruit observers to monitor 2006 presidential elections in Tajikistan. The monitoring results—presented to the media and published on the foundation’s website—concluded that the elections were marred by abuses of procedure, including proxy or family voting, inappropriate voter identification, and inaccurate vote counts.