A political scientist about Trzaskowski and Nawrocki's weekend: the race is even and the election result is the sum of trifles

The echo of the Friday debate between Ko Rafał Trzaskowski's candidate and Karol Nawrocki supported by PiS, including Snus, Saturday's clash with the confederation leader Sławomir Mentzen, their joint beer and two marches in the capital – this is the balance of the last weekend before the presidential election.

Political comments in the first part of the weekend focused around the Friday television debate of Trzaskowski with Nawrocki. The candidate supported by PiS invited the KO candidate for testing for drugs and prohibited substances in the body. “Let Nawrocki explain,” said Ko Rafał Trzaskowski's candidate, asked about this invitation.

The topic of drug tests appeared after Nawrocki covered part of the nose and lips during the Friday television debate, while taking a substance.

“It was Snus (he calls it nicotine gum himself) so as not to fall asleep during Rafał Trzaskowski's Tyrad” – explained right after the debate the chief of the staff of Nawrocki Paweł Szefernaker (PiS) on X. Sam Nawrocki Sam Sam Nawrocki on Saturday morning on Radio RMF FM said: “I call it rubber, they are nicotine pouches.” He appealed not to confuse it with prohibited substances.

Saturday evening was dominated by a conversation in the YouTube channel between Trzaskowski and Mentzen, who in the first round of elections obtained the third result and now, after a series of conversations with candidates who went to the second round, he is to announce who will support. Trzaskowski -Mentzen conversation broke two records – the number of viewers exceeded 600,000, becoming the most popular broadcast on YouTube on political themes in Poland. On Sunday evening, the number of views of the conversation with Trzaskowski reached 4 million 200,000, the earlier conversation with Nawrocki was displayed 4.5 million times.

Trzaskowski did not sign the eight -point declaration prepared by Mentzen. The interlocutors agreed in four out of eight points of declaration, including regarding the failure of the tax raising laws. Trzaskowski declared that he would not allow Polish soldiers to be sent to Ukraine; He will not agree to reduce access to cash and exacerbate the provisions regarding the possession of weapons.

The KO candidate declared – contrary to Mentzen's demands – that he is in favor of admitting Ukraine to NATO. Politicians did not reach an agreement in matters of transferring EU competences and new treaties. They also had a divergent opinion on laws limiting the freedom to express views. Trzaskowski emphasized very strongly that he has always been a great opponent of hatred speech that he wants and will fight.

Politicalists have different opinions on the effect of conversation with Mentzen. According to the political science from the University of Warsaw, Dr. Anna Materska-Sosnowska, she may affect the result of voting in the second round, as well as the film published after the Saturday debate from Trzaskowski's joint exit and his staff and Mentzen for beer. The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski published him on X, with a comment: “For Poland, which connects, does not divide.” Nawrocki on the same day participated, for example, in a mass in the Basilica in Piekary Śląskie, which, as the expert noted – did not affect the media.

However, in the opinion of dr hab. Wojciech Puszyński, prof. UM “Trzaskowski can at most get the voices of those who were not voting in the first round at all, outraged at the quality of Polish public debate,” said the expert. He added that photos from this “event” may be alienated by some of the supporters of the party together, which means that it will not go to vote in the second round of elections. “

According to prof. Puszyński, crucial – again – may turn out to be a debate on Telewizja Republika in Końskie, which, as he noted, the KO candidate should go.

The importance of Trzaskowski's conversation with Mentzen was emphasized by the political scientist of the University of Warsaw dr hab. Olgierd Annusewicz. In his opinion, Mentzen voters can now compare two leaders in the race for the Presidential Palace. Annusewicz also recognized the Sunday's weekend event, which – as he emphasized – showed the strength of both political camps and similar possibilities as to the mobilization of the electorate. “It's like a hand duel that remains unresolved, because both sides showed that they are able to download a lot of people,” the expert noted.

“The Great Patriots' March” – supporting Trzaskowski – moved from Bankowa Square, along Marszałkowska Street, to Plac Konstytucji. “Great March for Poland” – Nawrocki's supporters – he walked in parallel, but in the opposite direction: from the de Gaulle roundabout to Zamkowy Square. Manifestations went without more serious incidents. It was the first such situation after 1989, so that at the same time two marches of competing presidential candidates would go in one city.

“Dear Lord, now or never. It is high time for honesty to win, it is high time for him to win righteousness, it is high time for justice to win, it is high time for the truth to win. These elections are about it” – said Trzaskowski during the march.

Nawrocki cried: “We will win! We are going for victory, ambitious Poland is coming, safe Poland is coming, socially responsible Poland is coming. We will win, great proud, strong Poland is coming and change is coming.”

Trzaskowski was walking, among others Prime Minister Donald Tusk, deputy prime minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Marshal of the Sejm, head of Poland 2050 Szymon Hołownia, Senate Deputy Marshal Magdalena Biejat from the new left, as well as the winner of recent presidential elections in Romania Nicusor Dan. In turn, on the march of Nawrocki, he walked, among others PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński and leading party politicians.

Tusk appealed to the gathered to open their eyes wide. “Today, they want to reach for power not political, but ordinary gangsters and there is not a word of exaggeration in it,” he said referring to competitors. He emphasized that “Poland cannot have a president who will initiate another civil war because Kaczyński wants it.”

However, the PiS president in an interview with journalists argued that the voice for Nawrocki was a voice for sovereign Poland, and not giving new rights to international institutions. “Karol Nawrocki is in favor of development, which today means rejecting the green order, the resumption of great investments, including those that the Germans do not like, they have fucked them” – said Kaczyński.

The second round of presidential elections will take place on June 1.

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