In the latest issue of the weekly magazine Sieci, Marek Pyza discusses how a leftist international network aims to sway Poland’s elections. Under the pretense of mobilizing voters, it reportedly donates funds to Polish non government organizations whose banners advocate overturning the ruling United Right. The money is said to originate from unknown sources.
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Millions Left
In the piece titled Millions Left, Pyza examines the activities of the organization Action for Democracy (A4D). He describes the group as calling Poland a battlefield and actively engaging in a strategy that includes channeling money to chosen non-governmental organizations.
One sees a roster of beneficiaries tied to Action for Democracy. The article highlights leftist activists connected to Campaigns like the National Women’s Strike and Krtyka Polityczna. It mentions the Liberté Foundation, the Committee for the Defense of Democracy, Association 61 founded by the daughter of a former constitutional tribunal president, and Enduring East, among others. Noting ties to climate activism, the piece also references groups associated with the Heinrich Böll Foundation as well as charitable foundations that support progressive policy. The narrative also points to initiatives advocating inclusive policies and other politically active groups within the left.
The publicist who authored the piece suggests that A4D aims to contribute to changes in Poland’s government by mobilizing funds for allied organizations.
Who leads A4D is questioned. The council’s chair is described as a Hungarian American journalist and author known for a biography of a former German chancellor. The article notes connections to prominent public intellectuals and political commentators who have publicly commented on Polish politics and policy directions.
says Pyza.
Who Does Agnieszka Holland’s Film Help?
Jakub Augustyn Maciejewski reflects on the director Agnieszka Holland, noting that her latest project receives funding from foreign institutions such as Euroimages and that the production team has signed confidentiality agreements. The article also notes that the film’s political stance is seen as critical of the government, and that Poland is not considered a primary premiere venue.
The production is scheduled to premiere first at European film festivals, including Venice, and later be shown at several American festivals, with a Polish release planned for September. This timing, the piece suggests, could influence the political climate surrounding the election and provoke debate during public marches and public discourse in the country.
Maciejewski argues that Dutch film industry participants present activists supporting migrants on a similar moral plane as wartime saviors, a comparison used to illustrate perceived biases. The article contends that Polish audiences may view the portrayal of Poles in a negative light within the film’s framing.
The film is portrayed as part of a broader left-leaning narrative about Poland, viewed by the author as intersecting with the political conversation around national memory and identity. The piece also references various analysts who have commented on national history and contemporary events during public forums and discussions.
The discourse around the film raises questions about how international cinema is used in political discourse, and how the portrayal of historical events can influence perceptions of current politics.
Strange Cases
In Strange Cases, Konrad Kołodziejskiego reports on several unsettling events in Poland. He recounts three incidents on a single day near the Baltic coast where freight and passenger trains collided and were derailed. Although no fatalities occurred, rail lines were disrupted in multiple regions, raising concerns about the state of rail infrastructure and its vulnerability to wider strategic pressures.
Kołodziejski notes signs that these events might be unrelated yet could signal broader threats. The piece discusses the potential involvement of hybrid actions in which pranklike activities could be exploited to destabilize public life and transport systems. Investigators have arrested several suspects as part of the inquiry into these disruptions.
The author weighs the possibility that the disruptions may reflect a wider pattern of attempts to stress infrastructure and public order, rather than isolated accidents. The analysis considers how such occurrences could be used to provoke reactions and sow distrust during a sensitive political period.
Interesting Commentary and a Special Addition
The issue also features pieces by Jan Rokita on The Suspended Parliament, Dariusz Matuszak on what the opposition seeks for the referendum, Dorota Łosiewicz on The Slaughter in the Flock, Stanisław Janecki on The Baton of Truth, Grzegorz Górny on Praise of Imperial Russia, Marek Budzisz on Scenarios for Ukraine, Aleksandra Rybińska on Barbarism in the Name of Equality. It also includes a conversation between Goran Andrijani and Łukasz Sakowski, a science writer who publicly discussed stepping away from gender transition.
Additionally, the weekly feature commemorating the Ulma family beatification on September 10, 2023, and various commentaries on current events by a range of noted columnists are highlighted. Several voices contribute to a broad spectrum of perspectives on recent developments in Poland and beyond.
More from the new Sieci issue awaits readers. Articles from the current issue will become accessible online on a specified date as part of the Friends Network subscription.
Viewers are also invited to watch the TV broadcast from wPolsce.pl.