Rafał Trzaskowski, representing the Civic Coalition (KO), and Karol Nawrocki, endorsed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), are preparing for the second round of the presidential election scheduled for 1 June, Sławomir Mentzen, a pro-Kremlin candidate who secured third place in the first round with 14.81% of the vote, sent an eight-point declaration to the two candidates.
On 20 May, Mentzen asked both to engage in these points while not promising support for one of them in the second round, inviting them to meet and debate on his YouTube channel. During this discussion, Mentzen intended to propose that they sign a declaration reflecting the expectations and interests of his voter base. The 8 points include some typical far-right proposals, while others were already endorsed by the government months ago, e.g., Poland will not send soldiers to Ukraine.
One of the postulates of Mentzen’s declaration asked the candidates to sign a declaration that they would refuse to ratify Ukraine’s accession to NATO if elected president. Mentzen and his far-right party oppose any support to Ukraine and, consequently, promote one of the most crucial demands of the Kremlin towards Ukraine and the West: a ban on Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
The PiS candidate, Karol Nawrocki, fully endorsed all eight points of Sławomir Mentzen’s declaration, whereas the KO presidential candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, chose not to sign it. During a meeting held on Saturday in a Toruń studio and streamed on YouTube, Trzaskowski and Mentzen reached a consensus on four significant points.
Trzaskowski committed to refraining from signing any legislation that would increase taxes. “I am opposed to new taxes,” he said. He further asserted that he would not allow Polish soldiers to be deployed to Ukraine and would oppose any measures that reduce access to cash or impose stricter regulations on firearm ownership.
“I will not sign anything because I am not Karol Nawrocki,” Trzaskowski stated following the meeting, highlighting his position.
Additionally, Trzaskowski explicitly expressed his support for Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Moreover, the two politicians could not agree on two key issues: the transfer of EU competencies and the establishment of new treaties.
Trzaskowski reiterated the importance of maintaining the principle of unanimity in foreign policy discussions, noting that mechanisms such as constructive abstention and enhanced cooperation allow countries to collaborate more closely without requiring the approval of all member states.
The far-right “freedom” conception
Trzaskowski and Mentzen present contrasting perspectives on laws that restrict freedom of expression. Trzaskowski has consistently articulated his strong opposition to hate speech and commitment to addressing this issue.
“Freedom of expression”, as interpreted by far-right factions, often equates to the endorsement of hate speech, including racist and discriminatory remarks and incitement to violence. This is evident in recent examples, such as the anti-Roma rhetoric propagated by extremist groups like Chega in Portugal and Revival in Bulgaria.
In response to inquiries regarding whether he would support legislation limiting freedom of expression per the Polish constitution, Trzaskowski acknowledged the significance of free speech.
“We are discussing freedom of speech, which is one of the most essential values. However, we must also consider the issue of hate speech, which is unequivocally prohibited,” the KO candidate said. He noted that “a comment on a subject is distinct from inciting hatred, such as advocating harm against individuals.”
Trzaskowski highlighted that it is the courts that determine what constitutes hate speech. He expressed his intention to reinforce regulations surrounding this matter, affirming, “I will consistently oppose hate speech.”
The far-right love of weapons
Regarding his stance as a potential president on legislation limiting Polish citizens’ access to firearms, Trzaskowski inquired, “Is there even such a proposal? I am not aware of any.”
He further expressed his opposition to adopting a gun access system similar to that in place in the United States, stating, “I do not support making access to firearms as permissive as it is in the United States.”
He highlighted concerns about the use of weapons by children in American schools as a significant issue.
The Ukrainian issue
Regarding the ratification of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, Trzaskowski said: “I would rather Putin knock out all his teeth in Ukraine, not in Poland.” He reiterated his support for integrating Ukraine into Europe rather than allowing it to fall under Putin’s influence.
“Putin responds only to the language of force,” he noted, emphasising that he will not cease hostilities without security guarantees. “In the absence of such guarantees, especially from the United States, Putin is likely to rearm and launch further attacks. If he perceives weakness, there is a significant risk he will extend his ambitions.”
Trzaskowski called for strengthening NATO and enhancing European defence capabilities.
In addressing the supporters of Mentzen, the KO presidential candidate stressed, “I will consistently seek common ground; however, I will remain steadfast on the issues that are of paramount importance to us.”
