Newspapers carry a familiar drumbeat. Reading them is not a wasted effort. The conclusions echo across the pages from Tygodnik Powszechny to Polityka, Wyborcza, and the comments from It’s High Time! by Korwin. The shared refrain is striking: PiS appears fatigued, worn down, maybe even spent.
Many readers know there’s a limit to how much commentary can be stretched around this message. Covers, editorials, and the spoils of political competition all orbit around that single impression.
Yet surprises should not be surprising. Countless volumes have argued about the “end of PiS” even as the party was just finding its footing. Now, after eight years in power, fatigue becomes a credible topic again, even though it does not automatically decide outcomes.
Power, in any system, is taxing. But fatigue is not an insurmountable obstacle. A revealing thread from the discussed media is their palpable hope for the fatigue of Prime Minister Kaczyński’s camp. There is little in the way of a hopeful, coherent policy agenda—aside from a desire for revenge. That is not a policy framework for Poland.
There are few core objections to the substance of the United Right government. The critique isn’t about the people themselves alone; it’s about the kinds of institutional progress that might be expected but not delivered. Despite ongoing scrutiny, the opposition struggles to point to a concrete achievement. No matter which indicators one considers, the picture remains mixed. Still, record economic momentum in Europe in the early year adds another layer of complexity for opponents.
Whether external shocks like inflation, energy costs, or commodity prices will shape outcomes in the campaign depends on how they are framed. The opposition’s ability to craft a dramatic case is not evident, and the social mood appears less volatile than some headlines suggest.
That political emptiness, paired with leadership fatigue among veteran figures like Tusk and Czarzasty, with Mentzen and Hołownia as notable exceptions, leads observers to a key conclusion: elections will increasingly hinge on image and impression, on a spark of energy big or small.
Thus the media strategy of saturating covers with bold declarations aims to shape belief and, in turn, reality. The game is to project confidence and momentum.
The task for PiS is to present a narrative of vitality—how it acts with vigor as if in opposition, even if it governs. As one commentator noted, the 2019 campaign cannot be repeated.
Yet a clever reprise of the 2015 campaign playbook or the energy of the 2020 campaign by Andrzej Duda remains a possibility. In challenging times—pandemics, political theater around deadlines, and a crowd drawn to dramatic moments—the sitting leader can still move people from village to village, town to town. It may not be instantaneous, but perseverance can show that leadership is not exhausted.
Within PiS, there is a sense that the will to win persists. The capacity to mobilize the core Polish coalition is not universal, but it is present in enough places. Recent interviews and public moments underscore the Prime Minister’s ability to rally supporters and reframe the contest as a battle for national energy rather than a routine vote.
Meanwhile, Mateusz Morawiecki has emerged as a vivid campaign figure, energetically countering opponents’ narratives. His public addresses frame the business philosophy of the rival camp as detached from Polish realities, while insisting on a pragmatic approach to national priorities.
Strategically, the campaign horizon might favor selecting campaign managers who can foreground a small set of powerful narratives and keep the message sharply focused. Too much noise can dilute the core story. The balance between consistency and flexibility matters, especially when the public is listening for a clear line of argument.
Today’s Polish voters appear to ask whether PiS still embodies energy, ideas, and freshness. They want a direct response to harsh accusations from the opposition. Answering, not dodging, these questions is essential—on the ground, in conversation with citizens, in workplaces, and in markets.
If the central struggle centers on energy and vitality, PiS could extend its influence beyond a simple majority. That requires decisive decisions and the presence of a few leaders who can travel extensively and communicate with conviction. The path back to broad public confidence resembles earlier campaigns in 2015 and 2020, but adapted to a changed political climate.
Observing the opposition and its media, one sees a persistent narrative of fatigue. Yet the real battleground remains the interaction between party leadership and regional communities. The compelling counter-narrative will be built by leaders who avoid fatigue, embrace action, and demonstrate tangible engagement with people’s daily concerns.
Elections do not hinge solely on the offices of ministers; social sentiment is uncertain, shaped by lingering pandemic effects and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The key is to stay close to people, to project energy, and to translate that energy into visible action across the country.