“Or perhaps there is a desire to undermine others and showcase perceived superiority? The question stands: where do black citizens belong, and does a democracy grant their voices the same weight as everyone else’s?” a lawyer and professor addressed politicians and supporters of the opposition in a long post on X. [citation]
“A country where the Polish-Polish clash remains in full force”
Marcin Matczak chose to respond to the election results in a manner that differed from the typical rhetoric of his political camp in Poland.
You have secured what many call an unwinnable victory and, as some see it, now aim to build a country where the Polish-Polish conflict is raging. Instead of calmly enforcing the law against PiS officers, you seem to chase headlines and provoke their voters
– seek attention.
According to Matczak, the opposition and its supporters are trying to humiliate the United Right electorate. He cited a meme showing a roasted duck published by MEP Janina Ochojska as an example. [citation]
You want to humiliate them. It appears you believe these eight years were an anomaly and that the path is now clear for you to steer Poland away from past trajectories
– emphasizes the lawyer.
“There were a thousand hours of religious instruction; there will be a thousand hours of sex education.”
In the article, Matczak turns to a future scenario in which a minister from the left would oversee the Ministry of Education and Science in a new government.
Even though KO includes an independent National Education Commission in its program to shield schools from politicization, the author contends this safeguard could be bypassed. He notes that a left-leaning approach might be seen as neutralizing ideological conflicts, which he implies do not exist in the current climate
– ironizes.
There were a thousand hours of religion in schools, and now there may be a thousand hours of sex education along with anti-discrimination training, where the left would define both approaches to sex and discrimination, seemingly leaving little room for other viewpoints. Will the curriculum address the value of marriage or motherhood?
– asks Matczak.
In a country where millions voted for conservative parties, the most contentious domain, child-rearing, risks becoming politicized. The suggestion is to move policies decisively to the left, just as past shifts moved to the right. The old humanist maxim is invoked: now, it seems, there is a push to redefine norms
– indicates.
The lawyer warns that such a political approach could yield undesirable outcomes for the opposition, including potential losses in future elections.
Contemporary Poland and South Africa in the era of apartheid
In the following section, Matczak cites South Africa and Nelson Mandela as examples. He notes that in South Africa people did not metaphorically slaughter one another but did so literally in the past.
Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, is said to have learned Afrikaans, the language of his captors, to better understand them. He reportedly read poems in Afrikaans during public addresses. The piece questions what the modern equivalent would be in Poland, such as whether a political leader should publicly acknowledge another faith or culture. He references public figures and symbolic acts in this comparison.
– writes the lawyer.
Matczak points out that such gestures are unlikely in Poland, noting that he does not expect them.
He also criticizes the idea of organizing an opinion poll on whether a monument to a former leader should be relocated. If the next government uses humiliation of PiS voters to score political points, something would be off in the national conversation. A referendum on more substantial acts, rather than symbol removal, is proposed as a more constructive approach.
– ironizes.
Would anyone consider finally naming a major Warsaw street after the former president as a step toward reconciliation? Could the aim be to win back a portion of the PiS electorate or to reinforce it by signaling that they will not form the next government, implying that someone else will be the alternative?
– he asks.
Or perhaps the author wonders aloud whether there is a tendency to overstep, to assert a sense of superiority in public discourse. He questions if in a democracy all voices, including those of black citizens, carry equal weight.
– he notes.
Matczak estimates that the current political landscape in Poland resembles a grotesque cartoon where roles switch every four years, much like Tom chasing Jerry.
In this frame, the pursuit of dominance and revenge emerges as a recurring theme. The author warns that the party seeking perpetual dominance may not sustain such power, and the carnival of pride could end sooner than expected.
– warns.
There is a clear emphasis on the dangers of extreme polarization and the potential erosion of norms in political culture. The discussion remains focused on the risks of turning civic debates into personal antagonisms and the importance of upholding democratic fairness in the political process. [citation]