The Polish presidential candidates. Photo: Pawe\u0142 Supernak\/PAP<\/p>\n
Ukraine \u2013 and Poland\u2019s attitude towards it \u2013 was one of the most hotly discussed issues during a televised debate between Poland’s presidential contenders on the evening of 23 May.<\/p>\n
Source<\/strong>: Polish news agency PAP<\/a>, as reported by European Pravda<\/a><\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Karol Nawrocki, the opposition-backed presidential candidate, claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy\u2019s attitude towards Poland has been poor, while Rafa\u0142 Trzaskowski, the Civic Coalition candidate, accused Nawrocki of echoing Vladimir Putin\u2019s rhetoric on NATO membership for Ukraine.<\/p>\n Advertisement:<\/p>\n
Each candidate put three questions to the other across six issues: health, international politics, the economy, social policy, security, and worldview.<\/p>\n Migration and Ukraine repeatedly came up in the discussions. Both candidates distanced themselves from the EU migration pact. Nawrocki repeated his pledge that, if elected president, he would seek its unilateral termination, while Trzaskowski argued that the pact would “never come into force” due to the support that Poland has already given Ukraine.<\/p>\n Quote from Trzaskowski<\/strong>: “I ensured that EU documents stated that if we help Ukrainians, we won\u2019t take anyone else.”<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Nawrocki accused Trzaskowski of lying and challenged him to name the document. Trzaskowski said he was citing a 2015 EU regulation.<\/p>\n Quote from Nawrocki<\/strong>: “I don\u2019t believe there was a war in Ukraine in 2015.”<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Trzaskowski countered that Russia\u2019s occupation of Crimea constituted a war.<\/p>\n When the discussion turned to security, Trzaskowski asked Nawrocki if he opposed NATO membership for Ukraine, noting that he was “speaking Putin\u2019s language” on this issue.<\/p>\n Quote from Nawrocki<\/strong>: “I speak the language of Polish people. \u2026 If President Zelenskyy treats us poorly, we have the right to say so. Millions of Poles today want to say so but are silenced by accusations that they are spreading Putin\u2019s propaganda.”<\/p>\n Details: <\/strong>Nawrocki added that as someone “persecuted by Russia”, he can be a voice for those who resent Ukraine “flooding” Poland with grain, creating unfair competition.<\/p>\n Asked about his relationship with US President Donald Trump, Trzaskowski said he had never spoken ill of him and has “an excellent relationship with the Republicans”.<\/p>\n Quote from Nawrocki<\/strong>: “Trump doesn\u2019t respect people who grovel. He values strength and influence.”<\/p>\n Details<\/strong>: Nawrocki agreed, saying, “Indeed, Trump admires strong, influential leaders who speak for their people and their cause.”<\/p>\n Background<\/strong>: Following the first round of the presidential election held on 18 May, Warsaw Mayor Rafa\u0142 Trzaskowski from the ruling party advanced to the second round with 31.36% of the vote, along with Karol Nawrocki, Head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, backed by the opposition Law and Justice party (PiS), who received 29.54%.<\/p>\n
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