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Hello and welcome to Political Thinking, a conversation with rather than a news interrogation

of someone who shaped our political thinking about what has shaped theirs.

Well the world's attention has rightly been captured by the escalating conflict in the

Middle East, the tragedies in Israel and Gaza, something hugely significant has happened

much nearer to home.

An election which could change the balance of power in Europe.

An election in Poland, which resulted in the likely fall of the right-wing government

of the Law and Justice Party, which has been accused of chipping away at democratic

norms, ending media freedoms, and packing courts with sympathetic judges.

My guest today is Radik Sikorski, a leading figure in the opposition party of Donald Tusk.

Former president of the European Council, who may go on to be Poland's prime minister.

Sikorski was foreign minister for seven years before his party was kicked out of power.

A high-profile diplomat, he was at the centre of Europe's foreign policy until 2015, and

is tipped by quite a few for a return to the front line.

Radik Sikorski, welcome to Political Thinking.

Hello.

It is just possible that there are people listening to this.

I don't care very much about Poland, barely know where it is on the map.

Why should they care about what's just happened in your country?

Well, first of all, because you have what, up to a million of my compatriots in this country,

and I don't know whether this is still the case, but last time I looked a few years ago,

...