At a rally in Łomża, Szymon Hołownia faced a direct question from a voter aligned with the opposition. The woman challenged Hołownia with a pointed inquiry about alleged ties to figures associated with the Law and Justice camp, asking whether he was connected to Rydzyk or Kaczyński.
A video circulating on social media captured Hołownia during the Łomża event, with the same voter pressing him about perceived links to the Law and Justice circle and the director of Radio Maryja, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk.
Attack on Hołownia
The woman, who appeared to back a relatively radical faction within the Polish opposition and advocated a unified leadership under Donald Tusk, accused Hołownia of being a mole for Kaczyński or Rydzyk. She asserted that if the opposition failed in the autumn elections, Hołownia would bear much of the responsibility.
The scene in Łomża prompted a surge of commentary across social networks.
Here are thirty seconds of a three-minute exchange. The excerpt shows a sustained monologue filled with insults, belittling remarks, and accusations. It is notable that the speaker was not a PiS voter or a TVP viewer. Some supporters of various causes share their aggressive messages on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. It is important to note Hołownia responded with restraint in an effort to maintain dialogue. While the tone of the speaker was disgraceful, it is wise to avoid personal criticism of her, as many Poles share experiences of indoctrination and manipulation.
Opposition allegations
In a recording posted on a social media account, the opposition voter alleged that Hołownia supported Andrzej Duda in the second round of the last presidential election rather than Rafał Trzaskowski. Hołownia himself did not accept this characterization and began to address the accusation with stronger language toward his interlocutor.
Hołownia stated that he did not have a preferred candidate in the second round, but he would vote in the election. He added that his subsequent action would not support any of the second-round candidates. A reply from an account named Citizens of the Republic of Poland echoed this sentiment.
– noted the post on social media.
Comments
Many online commentators felt that Hołownia lost composure by addressing an older woman harshly. Some criticized the behavior as disrespectful and suggested a more respectful approach when engaging with others. Others questioned the underlying motives and asked how supporters should respond going forward.
Dr. Bartosz Rydliński, affiliated with UKSW, also weighed in on social media, clarifying two points: Hołownia did not endorse Duda, and he did not explicitly back Trzaskowski; rather, he stated his position for the second round in terms of his personal voting choice, expressed without enthusiasm.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, a member of parliament, defended Hołownia in public posts, noting that Łomża presents a challenging landscape for the opposition. She highlighted the region’s electoral history and emphasized the need for open meetings with opposition leaders to engage residents.
The conversation continued as supporters of Hołownia and his party sought to frame the event within the broader campaign context. Łomża’s dynamics were described as a reminder that the opposition faces tough terrain ahead of the autumn elections, and that internal tensions could become focal points if the coalition fails to unify ahead of polling day.
Additional coverage contrasted the moment with other reporting, underscoring ongoing debates about how opposition leaders should respond to criticism and how to balance frank discussions with maintaining a constructive political dialogue.