The year that closed 2023 saw Sławomir Mentzen, a member of parliament and leader of the Confederation’s New Hope, share his take on Polish politics and the post election landscape. He noted that the road ahead would require patience, saying that it would take many months to regroup, secure the base, and build reserves, so no major breakthroughs were expected in the near term.
Mentzen began with a retrospective on the first half of 2023, highlighting the mood in support polls and admitting that the party’s momentum might have been overestimated. He pointed out that the Confederation did not have enough resources to sustain its higher standing and warned against overreaching as a result.
It was a challenging year, he observed. The initial months were marked by visible gains, persistent campaigns, and steady growth. The message seemed to resonate, and opponents appeared caught off guard. Yet the momentum carried the party further than advisable, and the team soon faced the practical limits of resources to maintain such a trajectory, he explained.
Mentzen drew attention to the subsequent drop in ratings and the faltering of the Confederation’s electoral effort, describing it as a period of panic and disarray.
He described the later phase as a crisis, a defensive stance, a slow retreat, and, ultimately, a hurried exit. In his analogy, the Confederation resembled a boxer who absorbs a heavy blow, staggers, and struggles to regain balance as the opposing force stalks back to the corner, ready for another round.
With that assessment, Mentzen turned to the agenda for the year ahead. He presented a concise outline of the goals the movement should pursue and stressed that the main task would be to organize from within the party, a challenge that could prove to be the most demanding the Confederation has faced to date.
Recovery, regrouping, and strengthening were the pillars of his plan. He warned that achieving meaningful results would take time and that the 2024 period might be tough—potentially tougher than the earlier year. The path forward involved a careful, steady approach rather than rapid offensives.
In the post election context, Mentzen offered his reading of the wider political scene in Poland. He described the ruling coalition as buoyant and confident, yet warned that the coalition could be blind to the difficulties ahead. He cautioned that both sides were dealing with significant challenges and that now was not a moment for aggressive moves. The prudent course, he argued, was to focus on consolidating positions and avoiding overexposure.
Mentzen also stressed the importance of preparation and discipline. He spoke of tidying up internal matters before politics abroad begins to shift, likening the process to cleaning a room before seeking broader change. The sentiment was clear: readiness and order could determine the speed and success of any future efforts.
In closing, the politician conveyed a hopeful, if cautious, outlook for the year ahead, wishing supporters a peaceful start while signaling that the work would be substantial. The aim was simple yet demanding: steady improvement, a solid foundation, and a clear plan to advance in a challenging political environment.
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