INTERVIEW. One of the most important intellectuals in Europe, message for Romanians, a few days before the presidential elections: “Revenge and nationalism are always dangerous. And you have to remember this”

Adam Michnik is one of the most important intellectuals and dissidents of Europe. He is a historian, writer, a political prisoner and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza. Member of the Solidarity Movement, which contributed to the fall of the communist regime in Poland and, by contagion, in Eastern Europe, Michnik has been closed several times by the communist regime and played an essential role in the democratic transition of Poland. It is recognized worldwide for its commitment to liberal values, democratic pluralism and human rights, writes the Panorama website.

Last weekend, Michnik was in Bucharest invited to the UNFINISED DEMOCRACY event, with which he gave an interview for the Romanian public, through the Panorama publication.

Panorama: Mr. Michnik, you said that you look at Romania through the mirror of Poland and Poland through the mirror of Romania. What today reflects these mirrors about the state of democracy in the two countries?
Adam Michnik: I think that both Romania and Poland are at a crossroads. The line that separates these roads is represented by these political actors, some who want to disintegrate the European Union and the others who want to make it stronger. The first, no matter what they would say, why they would declare, in fact align with Vladimir Putin's political project. And its central purpose is precisely to abolish the European Union and to destroy democracy where it is possible – especially in Europe.

Panorama: How's this doing?
Adam Michnik: Putin uses ambivalent language – sometimes radical right, sometimes radical left – but this is just rhetoric, it doesn't matter the rhetoric here. What really matters is if you are a revisionist, I mean here the borders of the European countries. And that's Putin's idea. Do you think the future belongs to those who want to move borders as you please? That's what little does and that would like to do Viktor Orban.

Panorama: Do you think Putin has more allies in Europe now, compared to 10 years ago?
Adam Michnik: Definitely. And that makes him very dangerous. We, those in central and eastern Europe, know what dictatorship means, we have known it. At the end of the day, the dictatorship is about destroying freedom, destroying liberal values, regardless of the discourse that Putin uses – that it is a Nazi or Bolshevik rhetoric.

The paradox is that Putin accuses Ukraine of being Nazi, when, in fact, he is the one who behaves like Hitler in Czechoslovakia. The same is true of Viktor Orban – today, he can support the far -right or nationalist rhetoric in Romania and tomorrow he can try to get his hands on Transylvania.

Revenge and nationalism are always dangerous. And Romanians should remember that.

Panorama: What is your message for Romanians, at this time?
Adam Michnik: My teacher was the Polish philosopher Leszek Kołakowski, who used to say that there are neither definitive nor definitive victories. So, my message is simple: don't give up, never be beaten!

Read the complete interview on the panorama.