Dead-end debate
Former President Aleksander Kwaniewski came out the winner of last week's pre-election debate with Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński, according to a poll conducted by GfK Polonia. Some 53 percent of respondents favored Left and Democrats' (LiD) Kwaniewski, with the remaining 47 percent backing Kaczyński. But analysts claimed the unimaginative slugfest would have little effect on the elections.
Throughout the slanging match, euro-skeptic Kaczyński bragged of the country's booming economy and falling unemployment while jeering at his predecessors for failing to rid the country of corruption after the collapse of communism nearly two decades ago.
Kwaniewski, who led Poland into NATO and the EU during his decade in office, lashed out at Kaczyński, saying his aggressive approach had alienated foreign leaders and ruined many of the former president's achievements.
"I always said this would be a game of soccer and hockey on the same field," said Lech Wałęsa, former President and leader of the Solidarity union that helped bring down communism. He also declared late last week that he would back Civic Platform (PO) against his former comrades, the Kaczyński twins. Wałęsa added, "Kaczyński should have faced Tusk [of PO] to give the right wing a chance to show their wisdom."
According to some political observers, PO was the real winner in last week's debate, despite not taking part. "Certainly Law and Justice (PiS) won't lose from this debate, while LiD won't gain," said political analyst Jadwiga Staniszkis. Recent polls showed PiS and PO both taking a third of the vote, with LiD at about half that figure. (Reuters)
