BBC World Questions is coming to Warsaw

Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of politicians and opinion formers will discuss Poland's new era of change. The event will start at 18.00 at the Ujazdowski Castle. Entrance is free, online registration is required. 

The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across the world at a time of real change. The debates are led entirely by questions from the audience who are able to have their say and be heard round the world.

Featuring a distinguished panel of key voices, BBC World Questions is in Poland this month. BBC World Questions is an English-language event staged in partnership with the British Council.

Poland is experiencing a new era of political change. Its opposition leaders claim the ruling party, Law and Justice, is restricting democratic freedom and hobbling the Constitutional Tribunal so it cannot veto the government's programme. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the party's leader, says the opposition refuses to accept his party's victory in the 2015 election and its continuing popularity throughout the country. There have been blockades at parliament, demonstrations in the streets and a determination by the government to implement its mandate for sweeping reform.

It is a pivotal moment in an EU country which has often been at the heart of historical events. Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of politicians and opinion formers will discuss Poland's new era of change. The panel will include: the film director Agnieszka Holland; the Editor of 'wSieci' Jacek Karnowski; MP Rafal Trzaskowski from Civic Platform; and MP Dominik Tarczyński from the governing Law and Justice Party.

Mary Hockaday, Controller BBC World Service English, says: “Global debate is at the heart of BBC World Service, and this edition of World Questions comes to Warsaw at a unique time in Polish politics. A distinguished panel will discuss a range of issues led by questions from the audience, and we’re thrilled to be able to share such a crucial debate with our audiences around the world.”

Simon Gammell, Director of the British Council in Poland, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with the BBC in bringing World Questions to Warsaw. This programme generates space for open and independent debates on current affairs, which supports the British Council’s objective of promoting cultural relations among people worldwide. We believe that connecting people both in Poland and globally makes a powerful and lasting contribution to a more open and connected world.”

The programme will be recorded at the Ujazdowski Castle (Laboratorium building), 2 Jazdów Street, Warsaw on 7 February 2017.

The event starts at 18.00 and will consist of a drinks reception, an artistic performance and the debate. Entrance is free but online registration is required via www.britishcouncil.pl/en/events/bbc-world-questions-public-debate. The guests are kindly requested to arrive on time. For organisational reasons we cannot guarantee entry after 18.45.

As a cultural relations and educational organisation and partner of the BBC World Service, the British Council helps to enable a platform where the general public can join in democratic debate in a global forum.

BBC World Questions: Warsaw will be available on www.bbc.com/worldserviceradio from Saturday 11 February 20.00-21.00.

SS2