The publication of this report is not advantageous for the Civic Platform (PO). There are also actions by PiS designed to show that ideas originating from programs that sound nearly anecdotal can, with time, move toward concrete steps. There is concern that some elements of this report could surface in Warsaw in various ways, especially in light of remarks by Rafał Trzaskowski describing these concepts as cutting-edge proposals that are likely to be implemented in Poland. This contributes to unease among citizens and does not bode well for the PO, according to sociologist Arkadiusz Jabłoński of the Catholic University of Lublin, who references the C40 Cities report.
WPolityce.pl: Łukasz Pawłowski, head of the National Research Group, added on social media that there has been no action from Tusk for another week, implying that the PO operates without his leadership. He noted that public speculation and media commentary about PiS pushing a given issue in a week’s span do not amount to political activity. He asked readers if they share this view.
Arkadiusz Jabłoński suggests the discussion touches on figures such as Sikorski and Trzaskowski and the C40 Cities report. He also mentions Kosiniak-Kamysz and Hołownia. The speaker notes that the pressing questions facing Tusk are about constructing a coherent political narrative. It is observed that Donald Tusk and the PO have tended to respond to events with occasional remarks on PiS activities, yet when the remarks are framed as routine, they risk appearing as a serious political stance rather than a casual comment on daily matters.
The question is raised: if there is a pause in public activity from Donald Tusk, does the PO also show little to no visible action? It is suggested that the PO has lately set its own topic for national debate over the past two weeks, instead of focusing on ongoing media issues. It is proposed that this shift might be a temporary pause allowing the party to regroup, particularly in the context of international visits and major conferences. These events are seen as opportunities the PO has not actively capitalized on.
Does the situation surrounding the C40 Cities report hurt the PO, or does it not? The PO side downplays the issue, labeling it as a set of recommendations and arguing that PiS is inflating the topic. On the other hand, the issue appears to challenge the Platform’s position, since Trzaskowski has addressed the matter multiple times, sometimes with a tense tone.
The overall reaction among the Polish public is one of surprise and amusement. The report’s publication is viewed as not beneficial to the PO. At the same time, PiS activities are framed as attempts to demonstrate that programs with seemingly anecdotal roots can translate into tangible measures in a relatively short span. This creates a risk that certain elements of the report could be introduced in Warsaw through various channels, especially given Trzaskowski’s comments describing these ideas as avant-garde proposals likely to be implemented in Poland. There is concern that this might be interpreted as an extra burden on the public and not particularly favorable for the PO. While some PO figures dismiss these considerations as promoting a particular lifestyle without deep political constraints, the explanation appears less convincing to many, which is a challenge for the party in an election year.
Note: an overview of related developments
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Source: wPolityce