Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party, has taken social media by storm, gaining rapid popularity after joining the X.com platform on Saturday. Within just nine hours, his account amassed over 50,000 followers, and his 14 posts quickly became the talk of the internet. However, Kaczyński’s digital debut hasn’t gone unnoticed by his political opponents, with some expressing visible frustration.
On Sunday, Kaczyński posted a seemingly innocuous photo of a cat, which provoked a sharp response from Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, Deputy Chair of the Left (Lewica) party. In her critique, Kucharska-Dziedzic accused Kaczyński of using the post to broaden his appeal to a new demographic.
“First, a burly guy with a fist/a knockoff Travis, and now a wink at ‘childless cat lovers.’ As part of expanding his electorate, I’m waiting for friendship bracelet exchanges,” she wrote, referencing Kaczyński’s earlier campaign imagery.
The reaction unleashed a wave of online commentary. Many users interpreted Kucharska-Dziedzic’s remarks as a sign of her irritation, particularly given Kaczyński’s ability to overshadow a high-profile event by opposition leader Rafał Trzaskowski in Gliwice. Ironically, Kucharska-Dziedzic herself has only managed to attract fewer than 9,000 followers on the platform despite years of activity, further fueling discussions about the political dynamics of social media.