“The choice between a normal Poland and a radical Poland,” said Rafał Trzaskowski — a quote originally taken from Bronisław Komorowski’s campaign. The then-President of Poland published his commentary titled “Poland: Rational or Radical” in Gazeta Wyborcza.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Rafał Trzaskowski’s team is adopting tactics used by Bronisław Komorowski’s campaign a decade ago. However, they seem to forget that those elections ended in defeat for the incumbent president seeking re-election.
Right after the first round of voting was counted, during his morning meetings with voters, Trzaskowski announced that “ahead of us is a choice between a normal Poland and a radical Poland.”
Echoing the Komorowski again
Attentive political observers will quickly recall that similar words were spoken before in a presidential campaign. Exactly in 2015, then-President Bronisław Komorowski, running for re-election, published his text in Gazeta Wyborcza.
The newspaper from Czerska printed his words on the front page. “Poland: Rational or Radical” was an article in which Komorowski described the public debate by outlining a division between two camps: the rational and the radical.
“Rational Poland is also a Poland proud of its contemporary successes and seeking the best solutions for the challenges ahead. It is a Poland proud of its traditions and the achievements of 25 years of freedom. It is a Poland of the future. Radical Poland is a Poland immersed in dwelling on historical grievances and living mainly in the past,” the article read.
500+ as giveaway spending
Also noteworthy is the passage referring to the family aid plan announced 10 years ago, which later evolved into the 500+ program.
“The foremost duty of the president is to safeguard the constitution. It states that the government’s responsibility is to take care of public finances — because these are the shared funds of the Polish people. So when populist and unrealistic promises of radically increased spending — amounting to tens of billions — are made, common sense says: ‘Stop!’ Because the alternative here is clear: either responsible economic policy, or giveaway spending,” Komorowski wrote.