Huge unemployment under the rule of the PO
The man who appeared in the Law and Justice column on unemployment during Donald Tusk’s administration spoke again. He clarified that he is not an actor nor does he work for Republika television, despite comments suggesting otherwise. He explained that he faced unemployment during the PO-PSL government and that he does not want those difficult times to return.
As the debate continued, the Law and Justice party released a social media post highlighting a claim that the former Prime Minister and PO leader Donald Tusk did not deserve another chance. The speaker recalled his own experiences with high unemployment, noting a period when the rate reached 15 percent, a rise he associates with Tusk’s governance. He also recalled increases in the retirement age for women, changes in support for Polish families, and policies that he believes affected national security and social welfare. The spot’s protagonists described these memories as proof of how governance under Tusk affected ordinary workers and families.
The Civic Platform responded by filing a motion with the court related to election process disclosures, accusing Law and Justice of presenting false information. A spokesperson for the PO raised questions about the timing and accuracy of the campaign’s first legal challenge, seeking clarity on how the case would unfold in the electoral context.
According to supporters, unemployment reached 15 percent during Tusk’s administration. They argued that while there was some unemployment during various periods, it was under Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński that the economy saw further challenges. A spokesperson for Grabiec emphasized these points, urging a factual reckoning in the public narrative.
In response to the PO’s claims, a message from the Law and Justice profile on Twitter sought to set the record straight: unemployment in February 2013 did not nationally hit 15 percent but stood at 14.4 percent, affecting more than two million Poles. The post reminded audiences that unemployment figures varied by region, and highlighted that certain areas faced much higher rates. It noted that in the Pisz county unemployment exceeded 34 percent in 2014, with only a small portion of the nation affected by such levels at that time. The message emphasized how circumstances changed over the subsequent years, pointing to regional disparities and long-term trends in the labor market.
It is noted that unemployment later declined significantly, reaching around 5 percent under the governance associated with the PiS party. A court in Warsaw ordered a halt to spreading what was deemed false information about 15 percent unemployment under the PO-PSL rule. The ruling did not require a broader disclaimer from the party, but it underscored the importance of accuracy in public communications during the campaign.
News recounts and commentary continued to circulate, including calls for accountability and scrutiny of the figures used by different sides in the campaign. One angle argued that the discussion about unemployment levels reflected broader debates over how past economic conditions should be interpreted and communicated during political campaigns, and how these narratives might influence voters’ perceptions of current economic conditions.
The man who initially appeared at the Law and Justice site rejoined the discussion in another voice. He stated that the assertions of him being an actor or a Republika TV employee were untrue. He explained that he had been unemployed from 2007 to 2014, registering with the employment office without finding work. In his account, his region, Mrągowo, experienced unemployment nearing 20 percent, making job opportunities scarce. He described working on construction sites and in stables, only to encounter unreliable hiring conditions and very low pay. He recalled that many opportunities offered low wages and limited hours, which required him to seek work abroad. He described those years as profoundly challenging and expressed a strong wish that such hardships not return, underscoring the personal impact of unemployment on his life.