On Monday evening there was another presidential debate before the 1st election circular scheduled for 18 May. For the first time, the run was attended by all the most crucial candidates. The expression of the debate was unusual, with candidates asking each another questions, not journalists. This increased the strength of clashes and sharpened the speech of speech.
The organiser, “Super Express”, put on direct confrontations that exposed political divisions and individual resentments among the participants.
1. Adrian Zandberg vs. Rafał Trzaskowski: allegations of continuation of pathology
Adrian Zandberg struck Rafał Trzaskowski at the beginning of the debate, accusing him of failing to meet his election promises and continuing the “pathology” of erstwhile governments.
“Mr President, the organization you represent, before the elections promised the end of the waste of public property and a trough for politicians. It is as it was – pathology continues," Zandberg said.
Trzaskowski responded by attacking Karol Nawrocki and stressed that Zandberg had a chance to co-create changes but did not usage it.
2. Mentzen vs. Trzaskowski: migration policy
One of the most fierce passages of the debate was the dispute between Sławomir Mentzen and Rafał Trzaskowski about migration policy.
“Why do you lie to Poles throughout the run that you will not conduct open borders policies?”
Trzaskowski replied:
“The planet has changed, we have a hybrid war on the east border, where Lukashenko pushes migrants.”
Mentzen accused Trzaskowski of hypocrisy by presenting papers suggesting forcing the construction of integration centres.
3. Magdalena Biejat vs. Mentzen: a dramatic fight for abortion
Magdalena Biejat of the Left attacked Mentzen for his hard stand on abortion ban.
“Two years ago on Podlasie 14-year-old, mentally disabled girl was raped by her uncle, got pregnant and could not legally remove her pregnancy.”
Mentzen replied that “the life of a kid is simply a superior value.”
4. Karol Nawrocki: criticism of both sides
Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing candidate, tried to represent as a candidate independent of political agreements. In his opinion:
“One and the another — PO and PiS — are liable for the distribution of state institutions.”
Nawrocki presented himself as a defender of conventional values and a supporter of a strong national state.
5. economical themes: inflation and taxes
The candidates besides argued over the economy. Mentzen promised “a drastic taxation simplification and a 15% simplification in VAT”.
Trzaskowski accused him of failing:
“You cannot make changes in the separation from budgetary realities. Who will pay for public services?”
Zandberg advocated “enhancement of the public sector” and “greater taxes for the richest”.
6. abroad policy and security
In abroad affairs, Trzaskowski defended the pro-European policy:
“We must be part of the European community to have real strength.”
Mentzen warned against “dependence on Germany” and Nawrocki appealed for “greater investments in the army and the arms industry”.
7. Grzegorz Braun vs. Rafał Trzaskowski and Sławomir Mentzen
Grzegorz Braun, representing the most extremist wing of the political scene, confronted both Rafał Trzaskowski and Sławomir Mentzen.
In his clash with Trzaskowski, he accused him of “service to abroad interests”, saying:
“Are you going to hand over the remnants of our sovereignty to Brussels and Berlin?”
Trzaskowski calmly replied, stressing:
“A strong Poland in Europe is simply a warrant of our independence, not of its loss.”
In front of Mentzen Braun, he was more direct, suggesting that the economical demands of the Confederate were impracticable without giving up global alliances.
Mentzen replied:
“There is no request to break alliances in order to conduct a policy consistent with national interest.”
Braun wouldn't let go.
— Do you see the problem of Judaism? Or, in a simpler language, do you announcement that Jews have besides much, far besides much to say in Polish matters?
“I see the problem that the State of Israel has much more strength than its place on earth — the power of the economy, the strength of its own army. We have seen many times, unfortunately, the Polish government implement the policy of Israel, not Poland. We saw this, for example, during the situation during the regulation of the Law and Justice, erstwhile we managed to push the bill through the Polish Sejm, the legislature and the president had already signed it. It was a law on freedom of speech,” replied the Confederate leader.
The debate showed clear ideological and programme divisions between candidates. On the 1 hand, we had Trzaskovsky, promoting stableness and pro-Europeanism, on the another hand Mentzen with the imagination of a conservative national state. Zandberg fought for the left-wing ideals of social justice, and Nawrocki stressed independency from organization deals.
The results are open 3 weeks before the election. All indications are that the fight for the presidency will proceed until the last minute.
