Jarosław Kaczyński's proposal is not very convincing, not very exciting – said Dr. Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist from the University of Warsaw, in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24, referring to the PiS president's plans to hold a referendum on terminating the migration pact. – Kaczyński keeps thinking: “more of the same and that will allow me to win.” I doubt it, said Professor Andrzej Rychard, a sociologist from the Polish Academy of Sciences.
PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński announced on Saturday his intention to collect signatures for a referendum on terminating the migration pact. – From September we will be collecting signatures demanding a new referendum. This must be the basis for another demand, because we are convinced that we will win such a referendum, if it takes place; demands to terminate this (migration) pact, added Kaczyński.
Materska-Sosnowska: Kaczyński's proposal is not very convincing
This matter was discussed in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24 by Dr. Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist from the University of Warsaw and the Foundation. Stefan Batory and professor Andrzej Rychard, sociologist, representative of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Materska-Sosnowska pointed out that the PiS president had already used the topic of migration many times during previous elections, but now his political opponent's format was slightly different. – Today, the enemy is primarily the Confederation, which achieved a very good result thanks to such policies, such slogans, and such attitude. Therefore, if PiS wants to develop the right side more, I understand that this is where the idea comes from – she said.
– Moreover, it may be something that will also significantly differentiate us from Donald Tusk himself, not even from his attitude, but from PiS's idea of this attitude – she added.
The political scientist stated that both on the part of the current ruling coalition, and more broadly throughout Europe, there is a radicalization of language regarding migrants, and the mood regarding it is completely different than in 2015, when PiS came to power, and one of the main issues raised by this batch of issues was migration.
– Today, this proposal from Jarosław Kaczyński himself is, on the one hand, not very convincing, not very exciting. But on the other hand, when we look at the research, we unfortunately see how this narrative introduced by the parties resonates with us. (We are watching – ed.) how the attitude towards refugees is changing, how our attitude towards immigrants is changing. We are “for and even against”. This is also a very dangerous swing, she added.
Prof. Rychard: Kaczyński keeps thinking “even more of the same”
According to Professor Rychard, Kaczyński's approach to the matter is “playing the same game as before.” – Because it is to be read in a broader context. And this context is that they (migrants – ed.) “carry diseases, that they pose a threat not only to diseases, but that they are dangerous to our order and peace.” But I'm not convinced it will work, he said.
He also admitted that in this case “the biggest fight is between PiS and Confederation.” – As usual, two parties fighting for an ideologically similar electorate are very acrimonious in their relations with each other. But I don't know whether these various PiS actions under the title “threats from migrants” will be interpreted as credible by part of the Confederation's electorate. Moreover, there is a lot between PiS and Confederation, he added.
– It seems to me that Jarosław Kaczyński is constantly thinking: more of the same and this will allow me to win. I doubt it, said the sociologist.
Main photo source: PAP/Rafał Guz