The 2015 and 2020 presidential campaigns were pivotal for President Andrzej Duda and his supporters, including Marcin Mastalerek. Personal talent, hard work, and a dignified execution of the presidency were clear to many in the pro-Polish camp, despite differences over specific policies. This sentiment was frequently voiced in the weekly Sieci and on the wPolityce.pl portal. Mastalerek himself, in an Interia interview, stressed the significance of Duda’s 2015 victory and the need to recognize the president’s role in shaping subsequent careers.
Still, a reaction arises when someone claims:
that moment in 2015 was not a “good change.” it was a Duda change.
Because it was Andrzej Duda’s success in the 2015 presidential election that opened a path for change in Poland and gave PiS a real chance to govern. It reminded voters on the right that the party could win, after eight prior electoral defeats. Across the political spectrum, many pundits believed PiS had little chance of power and would remain in opposition.
In an Interia interview, it is even stated that Andrzej Duda’s victory, driven by his talent, resolve, and effort, helped PiS break its glass ceiling. The 2015 presidential race is described as a crucial milestone, not only for the Polish right but for the country’s political history, marking a shift and a reset in Polish politics. The idea that it was a Duda substitution is presented as a key takeaway.
There is some truth to the view that Duda added value, but the full picture includes many others. Beata Szydło, Mateusz Morawiecki, Jacek Sasin, Mariusz Błaszczak, Zbigniew Ziobro, Piotr Gliński, Ryszard Terlecki, Elżbieta Witek, Antoni Macierewicz, Joachim Brudziński, Mariusz Kamiński, Jacek Kurski, Grzegorz Bierecki, and numerous patriots, volunteers, and activists also contributed.
While Andrzej Duda’s contribution is undeniable, the broader point remains: politics rarely rests on a single person. No leader, not even the most celebrated, wins the presidency without a supporting political infrastructure, party machinery, funding, and media presence. Without these elements, one could capture a share of ten percent but not secure victory. This reality has been evident in every contest since 1990, including 2015. Duda earned much of his win, yet a well-organized structure behind him made the difference.
The pro-Polish camp built and sustained a political network that embodied the energy and commitment of many who dedicated their lives to it. Figures like Lech Kaczyński and Jarosław Kaczyński stood at the center of that effort. Some observers might say they were not alone, but that would be a shallow claim. The story of the Third Polish Republic is inseparable from the struggle against the post-communist system, the relentless pressure from the emerged media and business factions, and the attempts to discredit or erode the core values of solidarity and reform. The legacy of Lech Kaczyński, including his tragic end, is part of this enduring history.
The Third Republic’s opponents perceived the center as a threat and consistently sought to diminish it, yet it endured. When the era around the Rywin scandal waned, the Kaczyński camp pushed forward again, culminating in the 2005 presidential election with Lech Kaczyński, followed by a renewed push after the Smolensk disaster toward change in 2014-2015. The broader patriotic coalition around Law and Justice highlighted the merits of Duda while acknowledging the foundational leadership of Jarosław Kaczyński and the institutional framework he built. That historical perspective remains a central part of the discussion.
From these insights, drawn from years of observing Polish politics, comes a call for unity and respect for Jarosław Kaczyński’s leadership across the patriotic camp.
The victories of 2015 and the opportunity to advance Poland over the next four years were not the result of a sudden breakthrough or a lone burst of talent, but the product of decades of work by Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński and the people who stood with them.
Anyone examining those years closely should remember this. In the present and for the future, the camp relies on the leadership of Jarosław Kaczyński; without it, the path could be longer and more arduous. Those who aim to extend this legacy must understand the costs and the efforts that made it possible.
Note: the analysis reflects a synthesis of perspectives within the pro-Polish camp, with attribution to the ongoing discourse across affiliated media sources and participants in the movement. [citation: wPolityce]