The latest edition of Sieci features President Andrzej Duda speaking in his first interview after the election date was announced. He explains why the return of Donald Tusk to power could threaten Poland, and he weighs in on Germany’s perceived interference in Polish elections and the strained ties with Ukraine.
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“If you look at the elections, then against the opposition”
In a conversation with Marek Pyza and Marcin Wikła, President Duda stresses that a productive campaign should focus on substance rather than emotion. He believes Poles are discerning voters who judge leaders by track records and by promises kept. Asked what Poles want most, he replies:
Poles seek a strong, prosperous Poland. They want a country that advances, offers opportunities, and remains safe. The focus is on security, particularly military strength. A robust and sizable army, clear allegiance within the North Atlantic Alliance, and the demonstrated presence of Allied forces on Polish soil are essential. Economic and social security matter as well; living with dignity at a good standard is a shared goal. To achieve this, politicians must create jobs, support Polish entrepreneurs, and foster a thriving economy. When these elements are combined, Poland functions efficiently and well. That is what the people want.
There are media voices claiming the opposition plans to oversee the elections or even request an OSCE observation mission. The president notes this is another campaign tactic and a way to frame the narrative around the poll results, not the actual outcome itself. He argues that this tactic aims to influence international perception while masking the real results. He adds that Poland’s situation often diverges from how it is portrayed abroad and accuses the current opposition of spreading smear campaigns, including within European forums. He notes that liberal forces have strengthened positions in several European institutions, including the judiciary, over many years, and the effects are visible today.
— says President Andrzej Duda.
“Weber vs PiS: the question of the political enemy”
Jan Rokita observes that most German politicians previously avoided direct criticism of Polish parties. This stance shifted when Manfred Weber began openly challenging the ruling party in Poland. Weber’s political rhetoric regarding Polish issues has a provocative edge. In June 2023, the respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reportedly used the term political enemy against Poland’s major democratic party, marking a notable shift in how German conservatives discuss Poland. Even within Germany, this was unusual to see in print.
Rokita argues that Weber fits a broader trend among European leaders who do not intend to aid PiS in winning the current elections. Like many others across Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, or the UK, Weber appears to hope for unfavorable results for PiS and for a potential return of Tusk to power in Warsaw. At the moment, Europe has paused any reevaluation of its policy toward Poland until the October elections. If PiS remains in power afterward, discussions about a new approach to Poland are likely to begin in European government offices.
Rokita presents Weber as part of a wider European pattern rather than an isolated stance.
“Second Part and Second Attack”
Jakub Augustyn Maciejewski comments on the opposition’s and liberal media campaign against the second part of a history textbook titled History and Present. He notes that the attack on Roszkowski’s book is used as a pretext to paint the era of Law and Justice as backward and authoritarian, though the campaign ends up strengthening Roszkowski’s readers by fueling defense of the book’s values.
The article highlights three distinctive traits of Roszkowski’s new issuance. First, the author’s evident nonconformity contrasts with fashionable trends in education. Second, the work’s release after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine provides a clear lens to assess Europe’s and the United States’ historic policy toward Moscow. Third, the book stands out for its straightforward narrative style. In an era of flashy design and colorful illustrations aimed at engaging students, Roszkowski’s handbook remains a classic in both content and form. It challenges contemporary trends and refuses to chase trends himself, yet it remains demanding. Serious education, in this view, should provoke thought rather than simplify everything for easy digestion.
What’s more in the new Network?
The issue also includes a special supplement commemorating the Battle of Warsaw, titled A Great Victory for Lonely Poland, along with pieces by Stanisław Janecki, Konrad Kołodziejski, Dorota Łosiewicz, Dariusz Matuszak, Marek Budzisz, and Maciej Walaszczyk. Their topics range from the Confederation’s troubles to the Baltic Sea, demographics under PiS governance, immigration and resettlement debates, and NATO’s future challenges for Russia. A conversation between Goran Andrijanic and Marek Grabowski offers a reminder that those with a plan for Poland can prevail.
The weekly also features commentary on current events from Krzysztof Feusette, Dorota Łosiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Samuel Pereira, Alina Czerniakowska, Wiktor Świetlik, Piotr Cywiński, and Katarzyna Zybertowicz.
Articles from the current issue will be available online on August 14 as part of the Friends Network subscription. Readers are invited to tune in to the wPolsce.pl TV broadcast as well.
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Source: wPolityce