WARSAW, Poland—On Jan. 19, for the first time in weeks, skiers crisscrossed the fresh snow in Ostoja Koninki in southern Poland. A lockdown is in effect across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the resort owner found a way around it. Every 15 minutes, he hosts a political summit on the mountain—one of the few events allowed under current rules. Anyone can use the ski lift to attend—all they need to do before buckling their boots is sign a membership form for the “Business Owners’ Strike” political party.
Jozef Pasek is just one of hundreds of entrepreneurs in Poland who have decided to, more or less overtly, reopen their doors in violation of government lockdown rules that have been in effect since late last year, as the country nears 1.5 million total COVID-19 cases. Courts have thus far taken the side of the mutinous businesses that deem the restrictions to be illegal.
