Janusz Cieszyński answered the criticisms voiced by Donald Tusk. The Civic Platform leader argued that the digitization minister could be trying to influence Poland’s parliamentary elections. The signal was clear: surrender is not on the table. More citizens showing up at rallies and higher turnout on election day would complicate plans by Cieszyn, Morawiecki, and Kaczyński to influence or derail the democratic voting process.
Tusk spoke these remarks in public venues.
The statements from the Civic Platform leader align with coverage in a major Polish newspaper that highlights ongoing debates about the integrity of the electoral process.
Cieszyński’s response
Janusz Cieszyński used social media to reference Tusk’s comments and to clarify what the Central Electoral Register (CRW) is, while also replying to points raised in the newspaper’s article. Tusk suggested that the minister might intend to rig or steal the election, which provided an occasion to explain the CRW in practical terms. Today, each municipality maintains its own electoral roll, drawing from data in the PESEL system, citizen submissions, and decisions from disenfranchisement courts, among other sources. Municipalities rely on various IT tools to manage counts, and some systems connect to the internet in ways that raise security concerns. In practical terms, this means that if a municipal register were compromised by ransomware on the eve of the elections, the electoral process could face disruption. These and related issues, such as unregistered requests to be included in the voter census via the internet, are addressed by the CRW. The need for a central register has long been debated by the relevant election bodies. The central register ensures accountability for all operations, resides within a secure state infrastructure, and operates on a separate network. The minister will not have the authority to alter the contents of the register, which remains under municipal and consular control. It is also important to remember that the CRW is not used to decide the election outcome. Instead, the register helps generate lists of municipalities that will be sent to polling stations in paper form. If discrepancies arise, verification would be straightforward. The minister recently briefed members of parliament about the CRW timetable during a parliamentary inspection and provided a comprehensive set of materials and answers to questions. The same team that built this system has a long track record, including work on PESEL issuance for Ukrainian citizens after the onset of hostilities. These professionals contributed to the country’s needs well before and after the minister’s tenure began. Questions on this topic are welcome and will be addressed individually.
— as stated in the minister’s entry.
Beyond these exchanges, the Prime Minister has responded to Tusk’s taunts by asserting that if the opposition campaign stalls, the opposition leader could become one of the most vocal critics in Polish politics.
In summary, the dialogue around election security and the role of the Central Electoral Register highlights a structured, state-led approach aimed at safeguarding the process while keeping emphasis on transparency and accountability. It underscores that the register provides procedural support rather than outcome control, with independent verification mechanisms in place to address discrepancies that may emerge during the electoral cycle.
End of discussion notes from public briefings and parliamentary conversations reflect a framework designed to withstand political pressure while ensuring voter access and trust in the democratic process.