Robert Biedroń thanked the residents of Bolesławiec for coming to the meeting in such large numbers. He began with personal stories.
– I never thought that I, an ordinary boy from Krosno, a city the size of Bolesławiec, from a modest family, would one day be able to talk about Poland and change it – Robert Biedroń began his meeting. – I witnessed the transformation of the 1990s; my parents worked at a school. The process of phasing out schools began. Day after day, my mother came home from school saying that teachers were being laid off, and eventually both my mother and father were dismissed too, while there were still four children at home. I often hear similar stories from mothers who miss their children, who left for other countries to find good jobs – said the presidential candidate.
Robert Biedroń strongly attacked his rival Andrzej Duda, arguing that the president is not standing up for the Constitution.
– Aleksander Kwaśniewski gave us the Constitution, which the entire opposition is defending today – said Robert Biedroń. – After Aleksander Kwaśniewski signed the Constitution, every president has an obligation that must be respected: to defend the Constitution. If it states that there is a separation of church and state, the president must uphold it. If it states that Poland is a common good, this must be protected. The president must uphold it – added the presidential candidate.
In response to the question of what the president of our dreams should be like, we heard: independent, respectful of the Constitution, wise, brave, competent, committed to a secular state and the separation of Church and state, and supportive of cooperation with the European Union.
During the conversation with Bolesławiec residents, someone asked Biedroń to win, because otherwise Poland would return to the Middle Ages. And this is what Poles fear. Biedroń also spoke with a supporter of Krzysztof Bosak who had previously voted for Andrzej Duda. When Biedroń asked why he no longer wanted to vote for Duda, the man replied that Andrzej Duda was a puppet. There was also a question about same-sex marriage, and it had to be explained to Bosak’s supporter that the Constitution only says that marriage, as a union between a woman and a man, is protected by the state. It was encouraging that the conversation with Biedroń’s opponent took place with respect for his views, and that the opponent received applause for his courage. This inspired hope that Polish women and men want to and can talk to one another, even when they disagree.
– I am not running only for myself – Robert Biedroń said at the end of the meeting. – I am running for Poland. We can choose a Poland in which we all respect one another, as we did at this meeting. In May, we will make a civilizational choice: equality for women and men, clean air, modern education, a modern Poland. Ladies and gentlemen, let us make Poland once again appear with dignity and pride on the covers of newspapers around the world – concluded the presidential candidate.
Members of the Left were also guests in Bolesławiec: Małgorzata Sekuła-Szmajdzińska, Marek Dyduch and Robert Obaz. Stanisław Chwojnicki, a member of the County Council and head of the SLD in Bolesławiec, was also warmly welcomed. The head of Biedroń’s campaign team in Bolesławiec is Michał Jagielski, who asked for support and contact: FB Zjednoczona Lewica – Boelsławiec i okolice.