On Monday, in a televised debate between Poland’s major political party leaders, held before the Oct. 15 elections, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the Law and Justice (PiS) party emerged as a strong leader, while Donald Tusk, the leader of Civic Platform (PO), seemed to falter, writes political commentator Michał Karnowski.
The leader of the opposition, Donald Tusk, apparently entered the debate intending to unnerve Morawiecki, using known tactics like highlighting Morawiecki’s past as Tusk’s advisor as well as his past earnings as a bank president.
However, these moves appeared ineffective. Morawiecki was noted to be poised and directly addressed the Polish public, contrasting starkly with Tusk’s approach, which was deemed by some as old-fashioned, relying on personal attacks and outdated political tactics.
Morawiecki’s memorable moments included calling Tusk a “coward” in the context of national security and reminding him of his past as a “prime minister of Polish poverty,” while referring to Tusk’s record as former prime minister. Morawiecki also pointedly remarked about the opposition’s potential privatization efforts being akin to sales in a supermarket, emphasizing the consistency of PiS’s governance.
Other participants, like Krzysztof Bosak from Confederation, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus from the Left, Szymon Hołownia of the Third Way, and Krzysztof Maj from Nonpartisan Local Government Activists had varied performances. Bosak was critiqued for his overbearing attitude, Scheuring-Wielgus possibly overstepped by invoking her personal life, Hołownia lacked a cohesive vision, and Maj distanced himself from party politics.
Overall, the debate may not shift the political landscape dramatically, but it clearly showcased Morawiecki’s strengths and Tusk’s perceived dated political style.
