The war in Ukraine, great economic problems faced by the whole of Europe, and enormous geopolitical and defense challenges — all of this should persuade political parties in Poland to debate over the future of the country. Party leaders have started their trips across Poland as the long election campaign enters the next stage, but sadly the quality of the political debate has hit rock bottom.
Opposition leader Donald Tusk proposes only one cure for all ills: to remove Law and Justice (PiS) from power. If it loses power, inflation will disappear, EU funds will come in large quantities, and peace will be restored in Europe. Not to mention Tusk’s idea of a 20 percent pay rise for public servants and his proposal for introducing of a four-day work week. All of this shows that elites have reached the pinnacle of infantilism.
Tusk knows that he is not able to offer anything serious, that is why he treats the voters like children who do not remember his liberal direction when he was the prime minister of Poland, and who have forgotten that Civic Platform (PO) rejected the “500+” social benefit program and all other social measures. By presenting now such radical and pro-inflation ideas, Tusk is not even trying to win over the electorate of Law and Justice (right-wing voters do not consider him trustworthy), but instead he is fighting for the left-wing vote. Apart from social proposals, he also offers a cultural revolution, abortion, and so-called civil partnerships. All of this is supposed to exert pressure on the left-wing and force it to join a wide coalition with Civic Platform.
Do left-wing party leaders, Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Robert Biedroń, have anything to fear? I doubt it. Tusk’s credibility is not only low among right-wing voters. Post-communist and cultural left-wing voters prefer to back authentic parties, not a PO knockoff. However, every Pole concerned about Poland’s future should be worried. In a time of great danger for state security, the main opposition party proposes a cultural revolution and calls for nationwide social protests. Creating such social unrest in times of war is self-destructive.
All of this is topped off with the opposition’s suicidal activities towards the EU and Germany. Their calls for an external intervention into country’s internal affairs do not only put Poland at risk of losing EU funds, it is also about weakening European member states led by the EU institutions. The usurpation of competencies to build a super-state by force is concerning.
As an example, we need to look at Poland’s energy and military security issues. Poland did everything to become independent from Russian gas. Germany, supported by Brussels went in the opposite direction. Warsaw has been building up its military for several years. Germany and other Western countries disarmed their military in an almost unbelievable manner.
This is just the most visible evidence that it is the nation-state and not the EU super-state that can ensure the progress of Poles. The Polish opposition however does not agree with this and is still seeking German assistance.
