First reflection: it is good that we have this behind us. Because this past month – the entire campaign, from both sides, incidentally – had already begun to tire me out. And probably not only me. Besides, after the first round it was already clear that the vast majority of our fellow citizens knew perfectly well whom they were going to vote for – everyone simply settled more firmly into their respective trenches and waited two weeks to “shoot” into the ballot box.
As for the SLD electorate: “no illusions, gentlemen” – one would like to say. I attended a meeting with Mr Napieralski, having gone specifically to ask one question. I asked it and listened carefully to the answer. It suggested (and not only that) that, to Grzegorz Napieralski, one Mr K. and the other Mr K. were “the same devil”, and that he recommended neither of them. Because he simply recommended… himself. Another star in the firmament that very much wants to shine…
Second reflection: to Jarosław Kaczyński’s voters. Well, you know my views from my previous columns, so I will not surprise you now when I am as frank with you as usual. Try, dear voters of Jarosław K., calmly, to ask yourselves the fundamental question: Which Jarosław Kaczyńskidid you vote for on those two Sundays: the one in June and the one at the beginning of July?
Was it the transformed, calm, subdued one, who nearly fell asleep during the so-called first debate with B. Komorowski? Or perhaps the “other” Jarosław – from the so-called second debate (three days had passed – and what an astonishing transformation!) – awakened, attacking, mercilessly lashing poor Komorowski with words, with that characteristic (and long-unseen) glint in his extraordinarily sharp eyes?
Which Jarosław did you choose?
Was it the one who for many years proclaimed that the SLD was the devil’s spawn of the PZPR, indeed a “criminal organisation”, or the Transformed Jarosław, who recently, as he himself put it, had become “a little bit left-wing” and had even grown fond of Edward Gierek and his colleagues (one example of someone who lived into our times is the quite likeable Józef Oleksy).
Whom did you vote for on 4 July? Jarosław the “dove of peace”, who, for the purposes of the campaign and his new electoral image, proclaimed an end to the Polish-Polish war, or Jarosław the “hawk”, who in the near future (I am certain of this) will start waging that Polish-Polish war all over again? Think about it – who is really making a fool of you all the time…
And the third – and final – reflection: addressed to the victorious PO camp. Jarosław Kaczyński was right when he said on the heated election night of 4 July (there were emotions, weren’t there?) that one lost battle does not determine the outcome of the war. And in this respect I completely agree with J. Kaczyński.
The Civic Platform must have (and probably does have) the awareness that this is not the end, but rather the beginning of another great battle. Probably the biggest so far. The situation that has emerged means that – paradoxically – there is not much to celebrate (I mean the Civic Platform, of course). The results speak for themselves. A barely achieved victory – a very large part of Poles said “no” to the Civic Platform one year before the parliamentary elections. This must prompt reflection. And an appropriate response.
And the second fact – the consequence of the election: Kaczyński lost. Yes, he lost, but he is “on a roll”. He has an army of people absolutely devoted to him (you can see it in the television coverage). Moreover, it is obvious that in this situation Jarosław Kaczyński and his political camp will under no circumstances give up. The stakes are high. And this is not at all about Poland, or what kind of Poland it will be: solidaristic, liberal, clerical, or in the style of the early Gierek…
No – this is a bitter dispute and struggle between recent allies (because, after all, both groupings originate from the same right-wing anti-communist camp). Here, quite simply, it is about power. About who will defeat whom…
And the Civic Platform – in the situation that has arisen after 4 July – simply has to get down to some serious work. It must seriously fulfil at least some of its election promises – not only those from the latest campaign, but also those from 2007.
Because if it fails to do so, it will not only fail to win over J. Kaczyński’s supporters (which will be rather difficult), but may also lose the support of a very large number of Poles (people like me), who last Sunday gave the Civic Platform very conditional support. Over the past month I have had many conversations with people from both sides of the “barricade”, so believe me: I know what I am talking about! There is no question of great, lifelong love here; people are waiting for action!
And so, Civic Platform – which I still wish well – take to heart the rallying cry of the old warrior Bartoszewski: “Hallelujah – and forward!”. And move ahead.
Robert Rosiński