After Sunday’s televised debate, four of the central candidates running for presidential office told media how they felt the debate went.

All of the candidates felt that the debate went well and was necessary. According to Waldemar Pawlak, it allowed the Polish electorate to recognise the pluralism of views and the possible choices on offer.

“Every candidate is serious, and each one has their own view on Poland’s future,” the Polish Peasant’s Party candidate said, adding that “the meeting was valuable, and the debate went well; it is good to see that all the invited candidates came, even though there was some hesitation beforehand,” Pawlak said, referring to Bronislaw Komorowski’s earlier decision not to attend the debate.

Grzegorz Napieralski, the leftist candidate left the debate smiling. When asked who won the debate, he replied “me,” adding that optimism and a positive attitude of the future won the contest.

“It is worth entering into dialogue in Poland, as it is constructive,” Napieralski said, asserting that “I am happy to show myself as a modern and different politician who has a clear vision for the future, and that I managed to show this to the electorate during the debate.”

Law and Justice candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski was pleased that all four invited candidates took part in the televised debate, although suggested that he would rather discuss policies in a more unrestricting formula.

“I think that there should have been less questions [during the debate] and that more time should have been given to answer [them], it would have been easier to relate to what the other [candidates] proposed,” Kaczynski said, adding that “it would have provided for healthy argument, and it was good to see that there were not many personal attacks and there was room for […] difference in opinion.”

Civic Platform candidate Bronislaw Komorowski, who decided to attend the debate at the last minute, criticised the alleged media alliance between the Democratic Left Alliance and Law and Justice.

“I came here despite my huge doubts as to what was in store for me,” Komorowski said, underlining that “apart from that, I am very happy and satisfied with the outcome, and it was worth it for the look of astonishment on Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s face,” commenting on his decision to attend the debate.

Bronislaw Komorowski also told journalists that he wants to meet with Kaczynski for a “one-on-one” debate, although the head of Law and Justice replied that such a discussion will only take place after the first round of voting on June 20. (jb)

Follow our online guide to the presidential ballot at our unique service: thenews.pl/elections

Source: IAR

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