The campaign hots up

The beginning of my fortnight-long holidays accidentally concurs with the run-up of the presidential campaign. This very unfavourable coincidence means I have to overcome the irresistible desire to make the most of free days by lazing away. It’s not the right time to lie about on the sofa and wait for the vote. Actually there’s nothing to wait for, the weather on Sunday is forecast to be awful, so my plans of having a barbecue and devouring merrily kiełbasa wyborcza fell through. Tough luck!

I had a feeling, I somehow sensed the week before the election would be exciting, unlike the previous dreary days. And indeed, pressure is on the rise, emotions are running high, something is going on, finally.

Mr Napieralski had a slip-up. His beautiful, but still hollow words were put to a test by one ordinary old lady. It’s not that easy to answer a question how to raise money to the state budget. Actually a question where the state takes money from might be inconvenient for most of the candidates. But after all it’s reassuring – it bears a good testimony of Poles’ rising economic awareness. On the other hand Mr Napieralski had a great performance during the Sunday’s debate; in terms of image – he spoke adroitly and a lot, but said little, like other candidates.

Mr Komorowski continued his never-ending series of gaffes. After his last slip of tongue Poland is still weighing its decision whether to leave NATO or not. Endeared by the scale and frequency of brick-dropping, Mr Kaczynski’s caucus prepared a compilation of gaffes Mr Komorowski had made. Enjoy the read.

I found for you an anthology of Jarosław Kaczynski’s “quote unquote”. Enjoy the read!

Warsaw court ruled today that Mr Kaczynski has to apologise to Mr Komorowski for saying that the fellow runner is in favour of privatisation of health service and take back his words. Mr Komorowski doesn’t have to apologise to Mr Kaczynski for calling him a liar. Mr Kaczynski can appeal against the ruling. I don’t know what he’s going to do about it, nevertheless it was a blow for late president’s brother. Is it going to tip the balance for Mr Komorowski? I’d be wary of speculating…

And the turnout. I really fear it, because as the latest news say, for younger Poles holidays are more important than casting a ballot. If lying on a beach or hanging around anywhere else is more important than influencing the future of our country, I’m ashamed of my peers. Low turnout will be a catastrophe of Polish democracy – five years ago Poles were sick of tired of politics and we remember what happened. Today Poles want to have fun, but aftermath may be the same.

The recent polls show Mr Komorowski can get 48 per cent of votes in first round. The support Mr Cimoszewski has thrown behind him and today’s court ruling may persuade some voters to choose him or might give food for thought to those who believed Mr Kaczynski has changed. And last but not least – the run-off would set us back around fifty million PLN. Come to think of it – wouldn’t it be practical to save on the election?