With Poland’s presidential run-off just weeks away, remaining centrist Trzaskowski, representing the ruling Civic Coalition (KO), and conservative rival Karol Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, both aim to appease voters who voted for smaller parties and now have to decide who to vote in the final round.
Slawomir Mentzen, leader of the right-wing Confederation (Konfederacja) party and third-place finisher with 14.8%, announced on Tuesday, May 20th, that he would invite both candidates to a debate on his YouTube channel. “During the conversation, I will ask you to sign a declaration in line with the expectations of my voters,” he said in a recorded message.
The declaration includes a pledge not to raise taxes, not to limit freedom of speech, not to send Polish troops to Ukraine, not to transfer powers to the European Union, and not to restrict Poles’ right to bear arms.
Responding to the offer, Nawrocki told reporters it was “a serious offer from a candidate who wants to talk about the future of Poland before giving his support,” and signaled willingness to engage with Mentzen about an endorsement. Trzaskowski said he had not yet decided on participating in the debate.
Meanwhile, another right-wing candidate, Grzegorz Braun, released his own list of provocative questions for the candidates. Braun, who came in fourth place, securing 6.3% of the votes, asked whether Trzaskowski and Nawrocki would oppose the “Ukrainisation” of Poland, reject the EU’s migration pact and Green Deal policies, stand against abortion, and cease Hanukkah celebrations at the Presidential Palace.
