A day after an important presidential debate organized by Telewizja Republika, the newspaper Rzeczpospolita published poll results showing a clear divide: nearly 40% of Poles declare that debates influence their voting decisions, while almost the same percentage claim they have no impact. Who follows debates, who ignores them, and can they really change the course of the campaign?
Strong Influence on the Young, Less Impact on Seniors
In a survey conducted by SW Research for rp.pl, respondents were asked: “Does the course of presidential debates influence your voting decision in the presidential elections?” 39% answered “yes,” while 40.9% said debates have no effect. The remaining 20.1% admitted they do not watch presidential debates at all.
“Debates are less significant for men (44%) than women (38%). The percentage of respondents who believe debates do not influence their vote increases with age (24% among the youngest, 51% among the oldest). The same opinion is shared by one in two people from cities with 200,000 to 499,000 inhabitants and less than half of respondents earning between 5,001 and 7,000 PLN net (46%),” comments Przemysław Wesołowski, president of SW Research.
2025 Campaign Debates: From Końskie to Warsaw
Since the start of the 2025 presidential campaign, five debates have taken place. Three key ones were organized by Telewizja Republika, one by Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign team, and another by Super Express. The most recent debate was held on May 9, co-organized by Telewizja Republika, TV Trwam, and wPolsce24. Rafał Trzaskowski, Magdalena Biejat, and Maciej Maciak did not participate.
Two debates held on April 11 in Końskie drew significant attention—first, an open-air debate organized in part by our station, followed by a studio debate arranged by Trzaskowski’s team. The latter, which was highly controversial, saw last-minute participation from Trzaskowski, Biejat, and Maciak.
On April 28, the only debate featuring all candidates took place, organized by Super Express. Its unique format involved candidates questioning each other, with journalists only ensuring time limits were respected.
The second full-candidate debate is scheduled for May 12, organized by TVP, TVN, and Polsat—excluding Poland’s largest news station, Telewizja Republika. This will be the final nationwide clash before the first round on May 18. If no candidate secures a majority, the runoff will take place on June 1.
Republika Fulfills Its Public Mission
Given that nearly 40% of voters admit debates influence their decisions, it is impossible to ignore who actually organizes them. Telewizja Republika played a key role—ensuring real pluralism, engaging in the campaign, and creating a space for open confrontation of views.
While some media outlets avoided organizing full debates or sought to manipulate them, Republika stepped in to meet the public’s need for civic discussion.