President Duda’s Visit to Bolesławiec. Are We Living in a Different Poland?

At the meeting with the residents of Bolesławiec, there were no digressions aimed at the Brussels elites, France or Germany. There was no criticism of the judiciary, the judicial caste, defenders of some arrangement or Donald Tusk. Instead, there were expressions of recognition, congratulations, praise and thanks. The President said that Bolesławiec was a well-kept and prosperous city and that he would like all cities to look like it.

The President showed his positive side and peaceful attitude. Andrzej Duda promised the people of Bolesławiec that he would assume honorary patronage of the Ceramics Festival, prompting applause among the city’s residents attending the meeting. This applause clearly pleased him. You could see it.

So, do we have a different Poland in Bolesławiec? No. We are simply once again experiencing skilful politics. A seasoned politician tells people what they want to hear. A seasoned politician knows whom he is addressing and what he should say. If this had been a closed meeting of supporters of the current government or the ruling party, the rhetoric would probably have been different (see: the visit of Jarosław Kaczyński to Bolesławiec). That is why the people of Bolesławiec heard what they heard at the meeting with the President.

Is it good that President Andrzej Duda visited Bolesławiec? More speaks in favour of answering this question positively. Admittedly, there were inconveniences for some residents—closed roads and traffic restrictions—but from the perspective of the potential benefits for Bolesławiec, the visit can be assessed positively. The fact that the President assumed honorary patronage of the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival tipped the scales in the positive direction. It now only needs to be used skilfully.

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