Did Civic Platform really think they could outdo the PiS spot? The surprise move by Donald Tusk’s associates, as a response to a PiS clip featuring Jarosław Kaczyński, turned into a media moment where the reaction seemed off-key and poorly timed.
New PiS spot. Impressive!
The PiS campaign released a newly staged video on social networks on Monday. In the clip, the party leader receives a call from a representative of the German ambassador in Warsaw. The message suggests arranging a direct conversation with the German Chancellor about the issue of retirement age in Poland.
An embassy staffer is heard suggesting that the retirement age should be aligned with what exists under Prime Minister Tusk.
The ambassador’s office quickly offers a disclaimer, but the message quickly pivots to a political stance thatPoles should have the final say through a referendum. Jarosław Kaczyński counters the idea, insisting that the old methods are finished and that change will come from the Polish people.
READ ALSO: A commercial of this profile has never faced a response like this. The German embassy weighs in, while the PiS president emphasizes that Poles will decide in the referendum. The emphasis in the clip is on a shift away from past policies toward public input.
PO responds with a remake
The Civic Platform appears surprised by the turnaround. Their reply comes in the form of a hastily produced remake of the PiS spot, featuring Arkadiusz Myrcha in a speaking role. The altered script presents a domestic concern rather than international diplomacy as the focal point.
In the remake, a voice asks a rhetorical question about the affordability of medical treatments for prospective parents. It highlights in vitro fertilization costs and the financial barriers faced by many families, contrasting this with a period under Tusk when certain services were presented as more accessible. The narration then echoes a line from the PiS version, asserting that the era of the old approach has ended.
The Platform’s remake was intended to be a serious counterpoint, but many observers noted it came across as flat and less compelling than intended. Critics suggest the opposition may have misread the public mood or overreached in attempting to match the intensity of the PiS production.
Footage and segments circulating on social platforms show a stark contrast between the two campaigns, with the PiS video leaning on international framing and a call for national participation, while the Civic Platform piece leans into domestic social issues and policy contrasts. Public reactions range from amusement to scrutiny about the effectiveness of campaign stunts in influencing voter sentiment.
Multiple media outlets and political analysts have weighed in, noting how both parties attempt to harness dramatic visuals and familiar talking points to shape perceptions ahead of upcoming votes. The discourse reflects broader questions about policy priorities, economic concerns, and the role of public referenda in deciding long-standing issues.
Source mentions continue to cross reference between outlets that cover political messaging and those that track social media engagement, with observers pointing to the constant interplay between what is shown in clips and how audiences interpret the underlying messages. In the end, the exchange underscores the importance of clear messaging and the challenge of breaking through a crowded information environment.