Before the start of Friday’s so-called “Trzaskowski Debate” at the sports hall in Końskie, scuffles broke out when security guards prevented the media from entering the venue. They also caused serious trouble for Karol Nawrocki’s spokesperson, Emilia Wierzbicki, who later described on social media how she was treated by these “strong men.”
“First they wagged a finger at me, warning that I wouldn’t get in, and then they used force and slammed the door on my leg,” Wierzbicki reported.
On Friday, two presidential debates were held in Końskie. The first, organized by TV Republika, drew large crowds to the town square. When it ended, five candidates moved on to the next event—nicknamed the “Trzaskowski Debate”—which was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. in a sports hall on the outskirts of the city. However, it began with a considerable delay and continued until after 11 p.m.
Dramatic scenes unfolded at the entrances to the hall hosting this second debate. Security guards refused entry to media outlets, as well as to Members of Parliament and various campaign staffers. Force was used, and at one point a TV Republika reporter was pushed out of the hall. Nawrocki’s spokesperson, Emilia Wierzbicki, also struggled to get inside.
Wierzbicki, accompanied by MPs and members of Nawrocki’s campaign team, tried to enter through the doors on Stoińskiego Street, where a group of security guards was stationed. She later described the incident on social media:
“Last night we got a firsthand look at these ‘strong men.’ A masked ‘security company’ didn’t want to let me in, even though I’m the spokesperson for a presidential candidate. First they wagged a finger at me, saying I wouldn’t be allowed inside, and then they used force and slammed the door on my leg.”
After finally making it into the hall, Wierzbicki was confronted by Civic Coalition MP Agnieszka Pomaska, who told her to “start behaving.”
“I don’t know this lady and haven’t followed her work,” Wierzbicki responded, “but I can only guess she’s one of the more vocal defenders of women’s rights in Parliament—apparently only for women from her own party.”
“You are not the ones to decide who works where, who is a journalist or spokesperson, or who has the right to enter a debate,” Wierzbicki continued. “It’s a waste of time to argue any further. There’s no point kicking someone when they’re down. I bet Trzaskowski’s campaign staff are feeling nervous today. I only hope they don’t need those ‘strong men’ to step in again…