The Law and Justice weekend gathering introduced fresh ideas and marks the start of the end of the ruling party’s programming push, which began in the spring as ratings rose and the opposition grew louder. That may explain why analysts expected PiS and the rest of the smaller opposition bloc to prepare a forceful move for Monday. It seems nothing is off the table anymore.
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The social media drive called “Drużyna Tuska” mobilized thousands of internet users to remind people who never belonged to this team. Memes circulated featuring Sławomir Nowak, Stanisław Gawłowski, and other PO politicians who are currently entangled with the judiciary or suspected of various improprieties. Was this the aim of the opposition’s political PR team? It’s worth noting that there will be little room for the 9-10 million Poles who support Law and Justice in the “Tusk team.” According to Tusk, these are the people who “drink, hit people, and don’t work.” The former prime minister’s entourage presents a confident front for a weak game and signals a big strike. A joint conference and a citizens’ gathering in Krakow, featuring the former prime minister and Rafał Trzaskowski, are planned. Yet Trzaskowski has shown reluctance to engage in campaign activities lately. It’s not surprising. Will the main rival within the party rally behind the campaign effort?
third way?
“The middle of the Polish road” has long been the phrase used by Bronisław Komorowski, the biggest loser in 2015. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Szymon Hołownia appear to follow his route. Their coalition election committee has adopted the label “The Third Way: Poland 2050 and PSL.” The name fits the coalition, if only in its unassuming, bland tone. This doesn’t guarantee success, but it does underline the difficulty of challenging the 800+ bloc. For this project, the clash is unmistakably painful, yet not insurmountable.
A brawl and a chess match
Should the opposition’s weakness bring satisfaction? Paradoxically, no. Every government needs credible counterpoints and constructive critique to strengthen the state. This holds true across many European nations. Yet reasonable debate in this space is hard to find amid the childish barbs from Donald Tusk’s camp. There is a wide gap, even intellectually. When Tusk challenges voters of the United Right, the government and Jarosław Kaczyński respond with solid debate and listening to the concerns of ordinary Poles. This is why PiS leads in the polls, and many voters drift back to the party in subsequent surveys. Serious policy proposals collide with the superficial banter and intellectual emptiness from the opposition camp.
The provocative, at times reckless conduct of Donald Tusk and his team signals a troubling trend. In the face of Europe’s economic headwinds, the war in Ukraine, and other global challenges, the Polish election campaign risks becoming a ruthless, blunt contest rather than a thoughtful political chess game.
Notes reflect observations from political commentators and analysts monitoring developments in Polish politics.