Monika Olejnik and the German Question in Polish Public Debate
The opinion voiced by Jarosław Kaczyński has drawn accusations of anti-German sentiment that critics say go beyond the ordinary partisan framing. Critics claim he described Donald Tusk as a person deeply rooted in German loyalties, a portrayal meant to suggest a German influence in Poland’s political landscape. In the press room, this depiction is read as a signal to voters about the presence of a German-leaning party in Poland and the fear that an opposition victory would bring German influence to the country.
In a column titled “Hallelujah and Forward,” Monika Olejnik discusses the context of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Warsaw. Her assessment of Zelensky’s speech is positive and emotionally charged, yet she also offers sharp observations about Poland’s leadership and its stance on Ukraine. The column notes that President Andrzej Duda highlighted the roles of Lech Kaczyński and Aleksander Kwaśniewski in supporting reform movements, a point that surprises many readers.
Liquid stories Olejnik
Olejnik points out that many leaders’ speeches emphasize freedom, sovereignty, and solidarity, while acknowledging past errors. This framework, she argues, serves as a subtle prelude to a stronger critique of the ruling camp in Poland.
The discussion unfolds in a country where public sentiment can run hot. Even at a ceremonial moment, Prime Minister Morawiecki is portrayed as directing a critical lens toward the West, raising questions about what Ukraine’s leadership should respond to, and leaving Ukraine’s president largely silent in response.
Oilman notes that Olejnik has long challenged the idea that the Law and Justice party is unconcerned with Vladimir Putin’s regime. Media voices close to Olejnik are accused of portraying anti-Russian sentiments as a media bias aimed at the ruling party. The article also critiques Wyborcza’s editor for employing a similar rhetorical device to discuss relations with Germany, suggesting that the PiS government has fostered anti-German sentiment to frame the country’s Western alliance in a contentious light. Olejnik’s discussion about Russia is seen as outdated by some readers, who wonder when the focus on a German narrative will fade.
There is an appreciation that Morawiecki’s comments did not single out Germany, even as some public discourse continues to cast Germany as an adversary. The discourse thus moves around the idea of a unified European Union and the tension over sovereignty, with some critics arguing that the Polish leadership seeks Ukraine’s quick entry into the European Union while warning against overreach by the Union itself.
— a TVN journalist remarks.
The critique continues with the assertion that Jarosław Kaczyński helps to forge a narrative around perceived German influence in Poland. The claim is that the government frames the opposition as aligned with German interests, which, in turn, shapes voters’ perceptions of national independence and security—an argument echoed in another publication that calls Tusk a collaborator in the eyes of the Morawiecki administration.
— a statement echoed in the column on Gazeta Wyborcza.
ahistorical assumptions
To reinforce its critique of a supposed anti-German stance among Polish authorities, Olejnik brings up a historical episode from postwar Poland. She references a 1965 letter from Polish bishops to German bishops that urged forgiveness. The piece notes that this letter was met with strong reactions from the regime, which argued that the church and its leaders had overstepped. Olejnik reads this episode as part of a larger pattern in political rhetoric, where history is used to shape contemporary policy and public opinion.
Olejnik emphasizes that Polish political figures have a tendency to revisit history and draw lessons that align with their current agendas. The columnist wonders how those in power would respond if historical settings were suddenly relocated to the 1960s, suggesting that a different era might reveal different loyalties and tensions.
The discussion moves to a warning about potential limits on cultural education. Olejnik implies that governance might attempt to curb the teaching of German in Polish schools, a claim she frames as a hypothetical argument used to illustrate how rhetoric can shift from historical reflection to policy proposals. The piece ends with a reminder that the political climate in Poland often uses symbolic language and references to the Church and global figures to illustrate its position on sovereignty and alignment with Western institutions.
The media environment, including TVN and Gazeta Wyborcza, is described as adopting familiar, long-running tropes about anti-German, anti-Russian, and anti-EU phobias. The piece notes that references to Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church recur, sometimes to support or illustrate broader political messages. A satirical note suggests that these media outlets occasionally rely on well-worn comparisons and rhetorical devices to shape public perception, treating some arguments as jokes that persist in the public dialogue.
READ ALSO:
— A feature on the papal page in Wyborcza, and analyses of Franciszek’s remarks.
— Coverage on TVN24 with commentary on how PiS has fared in the face of scandals and political competition.
— Reflections on whether PiS faces a disadvantage, and how past weeks have shaped the perceived balance of power.
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Note: The ideas presented draw on ongoing commentary in Poland’s political media landscape.