A series of debates have escalated in the pre-election frenzy leading up to Sunday's early elections. Earlier, Civic Platform (PO) leader Donald Tusk entered a debate with current Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has been observed by political commentators as a victory for Tusk. Tonight, some minor players will enter the proverbial boxing ring, with Roman Giertych, leader of the Catholic national League of Polish Families (LPR), squaring off against far left post-communist Leszek Miller of the populist Self Defence (Samoobrona) party.
Tomorrow afternoon, Tusk will debate former Polish president and LiD coalition leader Aleksander Kwasniewski in a pre-election television debate. Kwasniewski already debated Prime Minister Kaczynski on October 1st, as 9 million Poles tuned in to the first debate of the election season. Over 40 percent of Poles surveyed expect Tusk to dominate the debate, while 27 percent favour the former president and 7 percent believe the debate will end in a draw. All of these debates will be televised by the major Polish networks, with transcripts appearing online soon afterwards. Overall polls indicate a bitter battle between Tusk and Kaczynski, with the former gaining on the latter by 14 points in the latest results. Most European observers are hoping for a victory for Tusk, and a change from the nationalist, often anti-European Kaczynski leadership.
However, many observers have noted that little new information is revealed during these debates, with politicians often repeating their tired slogans and talking points. But perhaps the most important aspect of these debates is not what the politicians say, but that millions of Poles are watching these debates, which will hopefully be reflected in a renewed enthusiasm at the polls on the 21st. |