Parliamentary elections 2023. Debate without Jarosław Kaczyński, the role of women in these elections – discussion of journalists from TVN24 and “Fakty” TVN in the program “Czas Decyzji. Wybory Kobiet”

In the special program “Time of Decision. Women’s Choice”, Diana Rudnik talked to journalists and publicists from TVN24 and “Fakty” TVN: Agata Adamek, Anna Jędrzejowska, Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska, Monika Olejnik, Anita Werner and Arleta Zalewska.

In the first part, they discussed Monday’s debate on government television, in which he will take part Donald Tuskand the president of PiS will not participate in it Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska said that “this refusal is the quintessence of the PiS state in which there is no conversation and no debate.” – Jarosław Kaczyński only pretends to talk to voters, and only goes to meetings of his activists. He only pretends to talk to the opposition, but there is no conversation because the public debate has been destroyed. There has been no debate for eight years. Jarosław Kaczyński pretends to listen to anyone. He doesn’t listen, she said.

Monika Olejnik said that the confusion surrounding this debate was “one big disgrace.” She drew attention, among other things, to the change in the time of the debate compared to the time of previous clashes of this type. – The debates were always at the right time, in prime time, at 8 p.m. And here we have a complete delay – she pointed out.

– Our role, journalists, is to demand the opportunity to conduct a debate, because we are free journalists in a free country and, I hope, in free media – said Anna Jędrzejowska. She added that the fact that public television organizes the debate is “no favor” because it is its duty.

Agata Adamek talked about the importance of the debate for the audience, for citizens. – What is certainly important is the assurance of our viewers and I think it is obvious for us that, of course, each of us has ambitions and probably each of us would dream of hosting such a debate. Only we are only intermediaries, intermediaries between our viewers and politicians. And when politicians do not want to take advantage of the opportunity to communicate with citizens through us, they only lose, it seems. You can’t profit from this, she said.

Arleta Zalewska said that the PiS staff “does not even consider sending Jarosław Kaczyński to such a debate.” – Not only would he not be able to maintain even the (temporal – ed.) debate discipline, but it would also be easy to provoke him, and it would not be a big effort for Donald Tusk – she said.

– But it is very interesting, and in my opinion it is an important signal, that the PiS headquarters is sending there Mateusz Morawiecki. When information about the debate appeared, I had information from the PiS headquarters that they would ignore it, that they would send a second row there, (…). When Donald Tusk says “I’m coming”, it will also be a test for Mateusz Morawiecki, because Mateusz Morawiecki is a much easier opponent for Donald Tusk than, for example, Elżbieta Witek – she added.

Anita Werner said that “the debate before the elections is an element of democracy, it is an element of the democratic world.” -This debate takes place in every democratic country. Party leaders debate each other. Candidates in elections they debate each other. It is disrespectful to voters to avoid such a debate. Hiding behind your colleague’s back is disrespectful and disrespectful to voters, she emphasized.