LOBBYING IN POLAND: SOME COMMENTS ON CURRENTLY BINDING LEGAL REGULATIONS

Abstract

One of the features of democracy is the constant battle for the protection or implementation of particular interests. This trend is inevitable and, according to many experts, also quite beneficial with regard to the efficiency of the functioning of the political system, as well as its social legitimization. Nevertheless, restrictions apply as there are as many ways of regulation, from a legal point of view, as there are countries in the world. Thus it ought to come as no surprise that lobbying exists in Poland, and in consequence we are observing attempts to establish a framework for it in legal terms. Some questions arise in this respect that require a serious response: what should be considered as lobbying? Is it actually legal in Poland? Does the legal framework allow for its controlling and monitoring? If, and possibly how, should such regulations influence the social reception of lobbying in Poland? These are but a few of the questions that this paper is aiming to provide answers to.