Below we present the full text of the appeal.

The election of the President of the Republic of Poland lies ahead. This year, it is of particular importance. It will determine not only who assumes the highest office in the country. Voters’ decision will also affect the political system, the legal order and the system of values that are to govern the lives of the women and men of the Republic of Poland.

By choosing the President, we will answer, among other questions:

  • whether the Constitution of the Republic of Poland is the fundamental law that everyone must respect, or merely a text of little significance?
  • whether human rights “are idiocy,” or have universal significance?
  • whether the judiciary is to be independent, or subordinate to the ruling party?
  • whether equality before the law, regardless of office, political affiliations, beliefs and preferences, is to be the foundation of the rule of law or a fiction?
  • whether the principles of self-governance and subsidiarity are to form the basis of the territorial system and the organization of social life, or merely be a façade?
  • whether hate speech and contempt for minorities and political opponents are to be the norm shaping public debate, or a pathology that cannot be accepted?
  • whether corruption and scandals at the highest levels of power are to go unpunished, or whether they should be stopped?

We do not know what the result of the first round of voting will be or whether it will decide the election. However, the second round can be won through civic mobilization and broad public support. We appeal to the candidates of the democratic opposition to support, in the second round, whichever of them represents the values of freedom, democracy and justice, and to call on their voters to offer such support. In this way, despite our differences, we can all win.

Akcja DemokracjaFundacja Centrum im. prof. Bronisława GeremkaStefan Batory FoundationRes Publica FoundationKultura Liberalna FoundationStocznia FoundationInstitute of Public AffairsCampaign Against HomophobiaMonthly “Liberté!”Committee for the Defence of DemocracyAll-Poland Women’s StrikePrzegląd PolitycznyWomen’s Congress AssociationKultura Niepodległa AssociationWolne SądyMonthly “Znak”