Poland's presidential debate marked by controversial statements
Poland's first presidential debate that saw all 13 candidates taking part was overshadowed by some highly controversial statements as the country counts down to elections on May 18.
In a heated televised debate on Monday night, candidates asked questions of one another on such issues as the economy, defence, migration, foreign policy, national security, abortion law, and state-Church relations.
The leading presidential candidate, Rafal Trzaskowski from the Civic Coalition (KO), the biggest party of the ruling coalition, clashed with the far-right hopeful Slawomir Mentzen, who accused him of inconsistency as regards migration policy.
"There is no way that any migration pact will be implemented because it is written in EU documents that we have already done our part," Trzaskowski said.
Trzaskowski also reiterated that he supports the law on civil partnerships and the right to abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy.
Joanna Senyszyn, an independent candidate, asked another prominent presidential runner, Karol Nawrocki, backed by Law and Justice (PiS), the main opposition grouping, whether he would sign, as president, the restoration of general conscription to the army, as favoured by PiS, and would it also apply to women. He replied: "Fortunately, we still live in a time when military conscription should be voluntary... voluntary choice is fundamental."
The most controversy was aroused by statements of two minor candidates, the leader of the Prosperity and Peace Movement, Maciej Maciak, and Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation of the Polish Crown movement.
Marek Jakubiak of the Free Republicans asked Maciak if he admired the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. "Yes. None of us here in Poland would be able to withstand such pressure. This shows that he is a very good politician," replied Maciak. After these words, a cry of "applause for Putin" could be heard from the audience.
In reaction to these words and the applause, Trzaskowski said: "What we have just heard is something unbelievable. I mean, applaud Putin at a time when Putin is murdering people, murdering children, allowing rapes in Ukraine... I have never seen anything like that in my life. I think that at least on this one issue, all of us standing here agree."
Meanwhile, Braun said during the debate that "thank God" Poland does not border "a Jewish state located in Palestine". He added that "then the genocidal policy advertised by ministers, rabbis and generals of the state of Israel could easily turn against us". He also said that "the state of Israel is pimped to Poles as an ally, as some aircraft carrier of European civilisation in the Middle East".
Senator Magdalena Biejat of the co-governing New Left group immediately responded to these statements.
"It is outrageous that such anti-Semitic filth as Mr. Braun presented at the very beginning of the debate is allowed to pass unnoticed in this studio. These are scandalous words, and they should never have a place in public debate because there is no excuse for using anti-Semitism."
Later in the debate, Braun told Trzaskowski that a few days ago, he was "flagged with a Jewish daffodil, that sign of shame", referring to the yellow daffodil, a symbol of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which Trzaskowski had in his lapel on April 19, the 82nd anniversary of the uprising against Nazi Germans.
"What are you talking about? What shame?" Trzaskowski replied. "It was the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising... These are the heroes of our history. This is unbelievable. I will not listen to this", he said and left the rostrum before his allotted time had elapsed.
After the debate, Biejat announced that she would file a complaint with the prosecutor's office "for hate speech, spreading aggression, inciting hatred" by Braun. She added that it was particularly outrageous that Braun's anti-Semitic words were uttered for most of the debate practically without comment.
The 160-minute debate, hosted by the tabloid Super Express, was aired by multiple broadcasters, including state-run TVP Info. It also featured parliamentary speaker Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Third Way alliance, Adrian Zandberg from the leftist opposition Together party, economist Artur Bartoszewicz, lawyer Marek Woch, and journalist Krzysztof Stanowski.
Public television will hold a joint debate of all candidates on May 14. It will also be broadcast by private broadcasters Polsat and TVN.
Poland's presidential ballot is scheduled for May 18, with a potential runoff on June 1 if no candidate secures an outright majority in the first round. Poles will elect their next president for a five-year term. (PAP)
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