Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations Far-right candidate claimed that Conservatives’ pick dodged a direct clash by timing the debates to ensure that he would miss both debates either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Presidential elections banner of Rafal Trzaskowski organised by the campaign team of Civic Platform (KO) candidate Rafał Trzaskowski was initially planned as a one-on-one confrontation between Trzaskowski and PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki Trzaskowski appealed for the inclusion of other contenders who had announced they were travelling to Końskie arguing that the debate should be expanded "out of respect for the candidates and the voters." the stage included not only Trzaskowski and Nawrocki but also Left candidate Magdalena Biejat Moderated by journalists from the three major Polish TV channels – TVP and Polsat – the debate was structured around three key themes: security Candidates addressed questions on topics such as the potential return of mandatory military service their competence in international relations and a bill banning alcohol sales at petrol stations with Trzaskowski criticising the government’s handling of the crisis while Nawrocki accused him of flip-flopping A heated moment occurred when Nawrocki placed a rainbow flag on Trzaskowski’s lectern Trzaskowski dismissed the act as an "obsession with gay people," while another candidate took the flag and said she was not ashamed of it Both leading candidates faced criticism from their rivals for allegedly trying to control the debate format remarked that the dominant duo had to finally allow others to be heard Candidates also exchanged pointed questions; Trzaskowski asked Nawrocki whether he could criticise PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński while Nawrocki pressed Trzaskowski on why Warsaw still lacks a street named after the late President Lech Kaczyński PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński declared Nawrocki the winner and mocked Trzaskowski for allegedly failing despite favourable conditions while Biejat said a genuine left-wing voice had been heard Absent candidate Sławomir Mentzen (Confederation) dismissed the debates as a "circus." another debate took place in the market square in Końskie this one hosted by conservative-leaning media outlets Telewizja Republika The twin debates in Końskie were the campaign’s first including a joint event by major networks on 12 May drawing candidates from across the political spectrum "Politics is not a boxing ring; we need an open hand not a clenched fist." Hołownia and Nawrocki criticized the debate's format Biejat urged voters to support their values in the first round highlighting leftist achievements like widow's pensions and advocating for policies on abortion and civil unions Senyszyn appealed for votes by promising peace and asserting her ability to challenge political leaders while Maciak called for practical leadership.​ The debates underscored the candidates' differing visions for Poland's future setting the stage for the upcoming election (gazeta.pl)  Get the best of “Warsaw Business Journal”  delivered to your inbox daily Report: resources of modern office space.. Terms of Service Trademarks Privacy Policy 2018 Warsaw Business Journal the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) who is supported by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party and currently ranks second in the polls The discussion will be broadcast by TVP, TVN24, and Polsat News, with moderators Joanna Dunikowska-Paź (TVP), Grzegorz Kajdanowicz (TVN24), and Piotr Witwicki (Polsat News), according to the Polish state news agency PAP Magdalena Biejat a Polish left-wing politician and presidential candidate has confirmed her intention to participate in the debate organized by TVP she has decided not to join the event organized by TV Republika a station associated with far-right and nationalist views "See you in Końskie, Szymon Hołownia And if PO (Civic Platform) and PiS (Law and Justice) decide they want to close themselves off from democracy Let’s talk in Końskie about our visions for Poland," Magdalena Biejat wrote on social media Do zobaczenia w Końskich, @szymon_holownia. A jeśli PO i PiS uznają, że chcą się zamykać na demokrację, proponuję drugą debatę. Porozmawiajmy w Końskich o naszych wizjach Polski.#końskie Hołownia with Biejat prepare for rival debates with Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki expected to participate The candidate supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) party has expressed his willingness to participate in a debate with the Civic Coalition candidate provided that TV Republika and wPolsce24 are co-organizers the Civic Coalition’s campaign has rejected this proposal TV Republika has proposed hosting its own debate Invitations have been extended to both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki Nawrocki has confirmed his participation in the event which will be held in the town square in Końskie who also wants to take part in the debate organized by TVN has become a symbolic representation of small-town where electoral success is believed to depend on addressing local concerns - an idea first introduced by Grzegorz Schetyna of the Civic Platform after the party's defeat in the 2015 parliamentary elections As reported by the Polish state news agency PAP, Joanna Senyszyn - a veteran left-wing politician and economist - has confirmed she will take part in Friday’s 8 p.m debate and also plans to attend the upcoming debate hosted by TV Republika next week Meanwhile, Marek Jakubiak a presidential candidate representing the Free Republicans (Wolni Republikanie) announced he will attend both rival debates scheduled for Friday in Końskie In contrast, far-right Confederation candidate Sławomir Mentzen has ruled out attending either event citing previously scheduled meetings with voters in southeastern Poland Mentzen also criticized the debates as chaotic and confirmed he would instead take part in a separate debate organized by nationalist broadcaster TV Republika on Monday Zamieszanie z debatą w Końskich. Kto jedzie, kto nie jedzie?#PAPinformacje https://t.co/0cu0HEiPRK Poland’s presidential election will take place on May 18 A runoff - required if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote - is scheduled for June 1 Source: IAR/PAP/Polish Radio/X/@MagdaBiejat/@PAPinformacje Letter in Leni Riefenstahl archive appears to claim her set instructions led to deaths of Polish Jews A new documentary on the Nazis’ favourite film-maker and lead propagandist Leni Riefenstahl suggests she was a direct witness to murderous crimes of the Third Reich she later claimed to have known nothing about and may even have contributed to one herself The film Riefenstahl, which premieres at the Venice film festival at the end of August, also claims that the propagandist admired the party and its henchmen until her death at 101 in 2003 a sentiment that ran counter to her insistence that she was not signed up to the Nazi cause Written and directed by Andres Veiel, the documentary is the first to have had full access to Riefenstahl’s estate It gives fresh details about claims that the film-maker was witness to one of the first massacres of Polish Jews while briefly working as a war reporter Riefenstahl followed Adolf Hitler to Poland at the start of the second world war in September 1939 and saw the atrocity take place in Końskie Adolf Hitler with Leni Riefenstahl at the Nuremberg rally in 1934 Photograph: Everett/ShutterstockA 1952 letter found in her estate appears to claim that Riefenstahl may even have been indirectly responsible for the deaths written by a lower-ranking officer to her ex-husband Peter Jacob “probably ahead of filming a scene on the market place” had urged that “the Jews” be “removed from there” When a lance corporal passed on the comments the officer’s letter says “it ended up sounding like this: ‘Get rid of the Jews!’” It adds: “Prompted by this remark … some of the Polish Jews attempted to flee and the shots were fired.” Riefenstahl’s set direction played a role in the death of the Jews in Końskie.” At the very least “her resulting feelings of guilt might explain her vehement denial of even witnessing the crime” The documentary draws on about 30 hours of cassette recordings of postwar telephone conversations with members of the public who had called to offer Riefenstahl their moral support in response to what they regarded as attempts to sully her for her close association with the Nazis One unidentified caller said the “morality decency and virtue” of the Nazi era would return the German people are predestined for that.” The recordings accompany some of the hundreds of hours of home video footage shot by Riefenstahl’s partner of cosy domestic life at their idyllic lakeside villa in Pöcking Images and letters from the Riefenstahl archive Photograph: Vincent ProductionsVeiel’s film recounts how she was heaped with praise from the public in particular after appearing on a late-night chatshow in 1976 alongside a former member of the workers’ anti-Nazi resistance movement Riefenstahl was applauded after talking of the shock she felt on becoming aware and how her “wounds have still not healed” Hundreds of letters written in subsequent support of her, including words of thanks from a well-known Holocaust denier with messages such as: “Don’t let the swine bring you down,” were meticulously catalogued by Riefenstahl One letter written by Riefenstahl to a longtime companion openly expresses her unmitigated regret about the end of the Nazi era Her phone conversations with Hitler’s architect and armaments minister, Albert Speer offer a brief insight into the peaceful postwar lives of former members of the elite Nazi circle The pair discuss the renovations on his house in the idyllic mountain scapes of the Allgäu and compare notes on what they get paid for giving talks or interviews “Every time I go on TV they claim I share the blame,” she moans to Speer Pictures from her archives show the two walking in the Alps together dressed in snow boots and fashionable winter attire The documentary also throws light on incidents in Riefenstahl’s life that Veiel said emphasised her disregard for people whose physical conditions did not live up to the Nazi ideals of strength and beauty she had championed in films such as Triumph of the Will one of Germany’s leading TV talkshow hosts said her preoccupation with Riefenstahl began in 2002 when she interviewed the film-maker to mark her 100th birthday “I left the house in Pöcking with significantly more questions than answers,” she said She said she and Veiel had both been sceptical of finding the truth about Riefenstahl’s life in the 700 boxes of material that made up her estate which the army of historians and researchers on the film quickly concluded she had heavily edited they found evidence of an “activist” who had remained convinced of the Nazi ideology until the end of her days One telling detail they discovered was a casually scribbled note on a page of her calendar Nawrocki,” Trzaskowski wrote on social media Nawrocki - backed by PiS - had called on Trzaskowski to agree to a joint discussion Piątek. 11 kwietnia. Godz. 20.00. Uczciwe zasady, największe telewizje. Czekam.Odwagi, Panie Nawrocki.#debata pic.twitter.com/kFFOfVC01k Why Końskie is key to winning elections in Poland The idea that “elections are won in Końskie” was first voiced by Civic Platform’s Grzegorz Schetyna in 2015 after the party lost that year’s parliamentary elections Końskie has become a symbolic location representing small-town provincial Poland - areas considered crucial to winning national elections provided that enough attention is paid to local community issues Two tv debates announced for Poland's 2025 presidential election So far, in connection with the 2025 presidential elections in Poland, two national TV debates have been announced. The first, scheduled for April 14 on TV Republika, will feature eight candidates, excluding Rafał Trzaskowski and Magdalena Biejat A second debate is planned for May 12 on major networks TVN24 stating that the era of extremists speaking without consequences is over Responding to Trzaskowski’s debate proposal Karol Nawrocki confirmed via social media that he is willing to participate - but with one condition including those typically barred from asking Trzaskowski questions at press conferences “Let the campaign teams handle the details,” he added Panie @trzaskowski_ cieszę się że parę godzin szkolenia wojskowego skłoniło Pana do męskich decyzji Przywykł Pan do cieplarnianych warunków prowadzenia swojej kampanii komfortowa dla Pana jest też ta propozycja Source: IAR/PAP/X/@trzaskowski_/@NawrockiKn “This aggression cannot be tolerated,” wrote Trzaskowski’s campaign manager “We’re talking about the destruction of a venue attempts to forcefully enter despite clear warnings to stop and physical confrontations involving individuals linked to the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and Telewizja Republika The campaign described the incident as a deliberate attempt to violently disrupt a democratic event such actions must be met with a firm and unequivocal response - both legal and societal,” Paprocka emphasized She added that Polish citizens expect political debates to take place with respect for democratic values Agresja nie przejdzie ! Kierujemy zawiadomienie do prokuratury w związku z wydarzeniami, do których doszło w Końskich przed rozpoczęciem debaty prezydenckiej. Mówimy o zniszczeniu hali, próbach siłowego wtargnięcia do środka mimo jasnych wezwań o zaprzestanie natarcia, a także… pic.twitter.com/B3GGmTd7ZY Opposition parties clash over fairness of Końskie presidential debate Poland’s far-right Konfederacja party also plans to file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office over Friday’s presidential debate in the town of Końskie party leader and Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak said Monday He also called on the National Electoral Commission to look into the matter all candidates should have been invited - and they weren’t,” Bosak told Radio ZET adding that the decision by Civic Coalition (KO) candidate Rafał Trzaskowski to invite only select contenders was something happened behind the scenes that the Polish public is unaware of KO lawmaker Monika Rosa told Polsat News on Sunday that the debate had been organized by Trzaskowski’s campaign team which was responsible for the venue rental and all logistics She added that public broadcaster TVP has “both the right and the duty to air election-related events.” “TVP is obligated to host at least one debate featuring all candidates within two weeks of the first round of voting - and it will fulfill that duty,” Rosa said Meanwhile, opposition PiS parliamentary leader Mariusz Błaszczak announced plans to conduct a formal parliamentary review of TVP’s handling of the Końskie debate Two competing presidential debates took place Friday in the town of Końskie after the original plan for a one-on-one event between opposition candidate Rafał Trzaskowski and PiS-backed Karol Nawrocki fell through Talks between their campaign teams broke down over which media outlets would be allowed to broadcast the event. Trzaskowski went ahead with his invitation, and broadcasters TVP, TVN, and Polsat hosted a debate featuring eight candidates, including Nawrocki and Trzaskowski Right-wing outlet TV Republika also held a separate debate in the town square featuring five candidates Public broadcaster TVP later clarified it will organize an official debate with all presidential contenders in May ahead of the first round of voting on May 18 which was broadcast earlier on right-wing stations such as TV Republika Source: IAR/PAP/X/@WiolaPaprocka/@Gosc_RadiaZET/YouTube/@Telewizja_Republika/@tvpinfo-publicystyka The head of Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign posted on social media that both sides agreed the television networks would send debate rules to the campaigns by email In an interview with Polish Radio, Paprocka noted that Karol Nawrocki expressed a desire to participate in the debate but his campaign team did not confirm whether he would attend tomorrow’s event which will be broadcast by three networks: TVP Nawrocki’s team also insists that two right-wing stations Rafał Trzaskowski announced that he expects the debate with Karol Nawrocki to take place as planned on Friday According to tvn24.pl and Polsat News) have jointly developed the rules for the debate scheduled for Friday and sent the proposal to the campaign teams of Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki Zasady debaty Trzaskowski - Nawrocki. Oto propozycja wysłana do sztabów.https://t.co/xFK9PfjzUP pic.twitter.com/hqi0px8ypl While both Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki are expected to be in the town they have not yet reached an agreement on the organization of the discussion but Trzaskowski has also indicated he may participate solo According to RMF FM both politicians may not show up to the debates organized by their respective rivals although it remains possible that the situation could change at the last minute with the belief that winning elections in the country depends on addressing local concerns a notion first raised by Grzegorz Schetyna of the Civic Platform after the party's 2015 parliamentary loss On Friday, Paweł Szefernaker, head of the campaign for Karol Nawrocki who is supported by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party denied media reports via his X (formerly Twitter) profile He assured that no agreement had been reached regarding the debate in the format proposed by TVP "The format of this debate excludes millions of Poles We want a debate with five television stations We want a fair play debate!" he wrote in his post demanding the inclusion of right-wing stations (wPolsce24 and TV Republika) and suggesting that it is still unclear whether the face-off between the two candidates will take place Dementuję pojawiające się w mediach informacje Debata prezydencka w formule przedstawionej przez TVP TVN i Polsat nie została przez nas zaakceptowana Formuła tej debaty wyklucza miliony Polaków Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia unexpectedly announced on Friday afternoon that he would take part in the presidential debate in Końskie emphasizing that all candidates should have the opportunity to participate Nie pozwolę wykluczyć połowy Polski z wyborów Telewizja publiczna ma obowiązek bronić zasad wolnych i uczciwych wyborów Earlier that day, during a morning interview with Radio ZET Hołownia also stated that if the Sejm (the lower house of Poland’s parliament) passes an abortion law without holding a referendum he would veto it as president and send it back to parliament Source: IAR/PAP/TVN24/X/@tvn24/@szefernaker/RMF FM/PR24