In the latest issue of the weekly magazine Sieci, Beata Szydło, a member of the European Parliament from PiS, shares her thoughts on winning parliamentary elections and responding to what she calls the opposition’s dirty campaigning. She emphasizes a message she has long stood by: hard work, humility, and moderation. The former prime minister urges colleagues in the United Right to stay vigilant and remember their purpose in politics.
Pieces from this issue can be accessed through a Friends Network subscription.
“Tusk will not drag us into the quagmire of a dirty campaign”
In an interview with Michał Karnowski, Szydło outlines what the parliamentary campaign is likely to look like. She predicts a combative and challenging period ahead. After months of opposition-led efforts, she expects the use of every strategy to deepen divisions, stir public tension, and deploy aggressive tactics. Her view is that the opposition attempts to inflame emotions and provoke hostility, bearing responsibility for the rising climate of confrontation. She expresses a hope that the opposition will reassess its stance.
The former prime minister also explains why the opposition appears to act in this manner, and she reflects on the political dynamics at play within Poland.
“Evil Face”
In another article, Marcin Wikło examines the case of Iwona Hartwich and the motives behind a protest she organized in the Sejm corridors. While concerns about disability funding evoke strong feelings and public empathy for those facing daily hardships, the most recent protest diverges from the 2018 events. Observers note that political party leaders and coalition MPs were not fully aware of a KO-led group entering the Sejm that morning. A separate public hearing concerning a bill about TVP’s privileged status on digital platforms coincided with the protest, overshadowed by the broader debate. The following day, Hartwich pressed for a civil-law measure to raise the social pension toward the national minimum wage, highlighting the complexity of social policy debates. This narrative is explored by Wikło in depth.
The inquiry continues with accounts from journalists who pressed KO members about why the proposal had not yet been introduced by the Civic Coalition. As tensions rose, Budka faced public scrutiny, while KO politicians suggested that the new government would act on Hartwich’s demands. The piece notes internal party dynamics, including the perception of ongoing negotiations with ministries and the sense of a quieter, ongoing process rather than urgent, dramatic action.
“Murder Outside Politics”
Marek Pyza weighs in on the verdict regarding the assassination in Gdańsk, stressing the judge’s assertion that politics did not drive the crime. Pyza argues that linking the act to political motives is an over-interpretation that reflects public discourse more than the assailant’s actual beliefs. He suggests the attacker’s hostility stemmed from a personal sense of injustice and perceived judicial failings, rather than a targeted political stance. The author recounts how some opposition voices attempted to frame the incident within a political narrative, while others emphasized the broader context of media and public debate surrounding the incident and related personalities.
Pyza also notes the media’s responses, including commentary from outlets and editors, and the way various publications approached the case while avoiding direct causation. The piece urges readers to consider the distinction between politics and criminal acts when analyzing such tragedies.
The issue also presents a wide range of perspectives on current events from a roster of columnists and contributors who frequently address political and social topics in Poland, offering diverse viewpoints and critical analysis of ongoing affairs. Readers are invited to explore the broader conversations featured in this week’s Sieci edition, which cover governance, public discourse, and the evolving political landscape in Poland.
Further discussion of these topics appears in other contributions by Krzysztof Feusette, Dorota Osiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Samuel Pereira, Alina Czerniakowska, Piotr Cywiński, Wiktor Swietlik, and Katarzyna Zybertowicz, among others, in addition to conversations with experts and researchers about media, politics, and society. The Sieci team continues to offer analysis and commentary on current events in Poland.
More from the new Sieci issue awaits readers. Online availability for this issue is scheduled to begin later this month as part of the Friends Network subscription.
Observers are also encouraged to view related television broadcasts for ongoing coverage and discussion of these topics.
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[citation: wPolityce]