On a TVN24 program, a former minister of the interior from the previous government led by Donald Tusk stated that PiS exploited Poland’s reverence for St. John Paul II to frame the ruling party as an instrument of the opposition. The discussion began with a self-questioning of why PiS is perceived as an adversary by some voices in the public spectrum. The guest argued that PiS has fostered deep divisions in Polish society, perhaps the most significant since the upheavals of World War II, and he connected this to the political maneuvering ahead of parliamentary elections. His remarks touched on the idea of a single election list and the strategic rationale behind it. He emphasized that the will of voters, expressed through party supporters, supports a unified list, and he suggested that party leaders should weigh in when internal disagreements threaten coalition-building. He noted that despite differences, political actors can sometimes cross ideological boundaries to achieve common goals and maintain open lines of communication between parties. He asserted that in a functioning democracy, parties must respond to their voters and consider a consolidated electoral strategy as a matter of principle. He warned that failure to present a joint list would carry consequences for smaller parties at the ballot box, and he expressed confidence that a unified slate could be assembled. The guest then redirected the focus to the presidency of the ruling party, accusing the party leader of pursuing increasingly authoritarian policies during his eight-year tenure. Attack on John Paul II When discussing the law intended to safeguard the good name of St. John Paul II, the guest claimed that PiS had transformed the revered Polish figure into a political tool for the opposition, calling the move a profound misstep. The host pressed about remarks made by Archbishop Jędraszewski regarding a second attack on the pope, and the guest launched another critique of church voices, describing one clergyman as among the most divisive figures in the Polish church. This pattern suggested that when political winds sour for the ruling party’s opponents, personal attacks replace substantive dialogue. The discussion touched on the broader question of how political actors address legacy and respect for national figures in the face of contemporary policy battles. [citation: wPolityce]
