A new election advertisement from Platforma Obywatelska has sparked sharp reactions among left-leaning politicians who question its framing of Poland’s migration policy. In social media commentary, Member of Parliament Anna Maria Żukowska voiced surprise and dissatisfaction with the ad’s approach, signaling a broader debate about how migration is portrayed in the campaign season.
The clip shared by Platforma Obywatelska critiques the government’s migration policy, portraying it as a lever in electoral strategy. It suggests that the United Right administration has admitted allowing a substantial number of migrants into Poland and now uses the migration topic to influence voters ahead of the referendum. The message appears designed to shift the political terrain and frame migration as a central issue in the upcoming elections.
READ ALSO: A striking new commercial from the PO reopens the migration debate in Poland. The ad asks viewers if they have discussed this with Ochojska, signaling a potential rhetorical pivot in the coalition’s messaging.
Criticism from the left
Voices from the left have already condemned the Platforma Obywatelska video. Maciej Gdula, a left-wing member of parliament, publicly questioned the campaign’s narrative. Not long after, Żukowska took the floor in a parliamentary discussion about shifting how immigrants are addressed by Donald Tusk’s party. She drew a stark comparison between the PO video and the Confederation’s messaging, calling the recording “disgusting, anti-human, racist and xenophobic.”
“Oh, the Confederacy’s new election spot has arrived,”
Żukowska wrote on social media, attaching a clip from Platforma Obywatelska as part of her critique. Her post extended beyond the video itself, engaging fellow politicians, including those from the Green party, who are joining forces with PO within the Civic Coalition for the elections.
“And how are you, @Groenen? No human is illegal?”
She added in a subsequent message, amplifying her condemnation while signaling the depth of concern about the ad’s rhetoric and its potential impact on public discourse.
“Disgusting, anti-human, racist and xenophobic,”
the MP reiterated in another update, underscoring the polemic surrounding how migration is portrayed and debated in political campaigns. The exchange highlights the tension between different factions over the proper frame for discussing migrants and asylum seekers during a period of political mobilization.
READ ALSO: — ONLY HERE. Piotr Król says it’s hard to take Civic Platform seriously, given what he sees as a drift into political folklore. — dr. Żukowski argues that the PO’s real program is not visible and appears to favor the interests of wealthier and influential minorities. These comments, distributed via social networks and party channels, illustrate the fractious nature of the migration debate in the campaign season.
The discussion also reflects how Polish political actors are using and reacting to migration as a political instrument. While some accuse the PO of exploiting a sensitive issue for electoral gain, others caution against artificially inflaming fears or reducing complex policy questions to simplistic slogans. The conversation in parliamentary corridors and online timelines reveals a broader struggle over who defines immigration policy and how it should be communicated to the public.
In this context, the role of media amplification is evident. The ad’s reception—measured by immediate social-media responses, parliamentary commentary, and cross-party engagement—demonstrates how image, sound bites, and carefully staged scenes can become focal points in a heated policy debate. The tension between a desire for strong political messaging and the need for responsible, humane discourse is at the heart of this controversy.
Sources and attributions for the various quotes and postings in this piece are drawn from contemporary political coverage and public social media activity. Citations reflect the different perspectives offered by the parties involved, illustrating how a single campaign piece can ignite a spectrum of reactions across the political landscape.