Krakow, Poland – As Adrian Zandberg, the leader of the Polish leftist Razem (together) party, he prepared to speak to a large crowd at his rally in Krakow’s central square this Wednesday, but he was not prepared to attend Sunday’s presidential election
Speaking with revolutionary enthusiasm to the cheerful crowd, Zandberg proposed his ideals: quality public services, affordable housing for everything, investment in education and science, the end of the toxic right-wing double-layered end in Polish politics.
Zandberg is one of the two presidential hopes in Poland on the left. The other is Magdalena Bejatt of the Luwika (left) party. Between those two, they represent political forces that have long remained on the political rim. Sunday’s contest is also a battle for leadership in the movement, popular among the city’s generally younger people.
Opinion polls suggest that the final presidential fight – the first round of votes will take place on Sunday – is between two favourites, Rafau Truzaskovsky and Karol Nowrocky, representatives of citizen platforms and Law and Justice (PIS) for right-wing parties that have dominated the country’s political scene for the past 20 years.
Nevertheless, Zandberg was confident and passionate when he spoke to his supporters.
“We believe we can build another, better Poland. We believe that Poland can afford to be a country with decent public services,” he declared. “We can afford to stop people in the world’s 20th economy from dying in line to see a doctor, and we can afford to allow young, hardworking people to rent roofs above their heads at the usual price.
Calling the current system “unconstitutional” and “exploding with inequality,” he sought change. The system “is a threat to Poland’s future,” he said.
Like other leftist politicians, he appears to embrace the neoliberal views of the two main candidates, their lack of commitment to ensuring affordable housing for the people (constitutional rights), attempts to privatize the health system, and the rise in anti-ethnic sentiments within the country.
It has a “real” effect on Polish politics
The day before, in another square in central Krakow in Vijat, the main competitor of the Polish left wing mind and heart, the Senate deputy stood before a crowd of her own supporters. Unlike Zandberg’s Razem, her party, Lewica, along with the centre right civic platform, is part of the dominant civic coalition.
Luwika’s decision to enter the Union government in the second half of 2023 has sparked criticism among some on the left and has become the bone of a major competition between the two left-wing presidential candidates.
Speaking at Tuesday’s rally, Biejat defended the decision to join the coalition as correct. According to her, it allowed her party to have a real impact on Polish politics.
She listed their achievements. “Thanks to Lewika’s presence in the government, we introduced a widow pension supplement. We were able to introduce a pilot program that reduces working hours. We were able to increase funeral allowances.”
“We changed the definition of rape so that women don’t have to explain to the judge that it wasn’t their fault that someone hurt them.
Krakow crowds cheered for their declaration of support for women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities and affordable housing rights, although smaller than Zandberg.
A fragile revival?
The second-term president of leftists, Alexander Kwasnievsk, one of the founders of the Democratic Left Alliance, was extremely successful. Under the presidency that ended in 2005, Poland joined NATO and the European Union to introduce a new constitution. However, since his departure, the left has been in crisis.
The ideals of left candidates are largely different from those of left candidates in other European countries, but their appeal in Poland is increasing as people become disillusioned with immigration and fall into responsibilities to the one million Ukrainian refugees who occupy shelter from the war with Russia. According to Politico’s latest tally polls, the two left-wing candidates are expected to win 5% of the vote each.
In the latest European elections in 2024, Luwika secured just 6.3% of the vote, the lowest score in its history. In its latest parliamentary election in 2023, the party secured just 5.3% of the vote. The question is whether left-wing parties can begin a comeback.
Some observers see signs of a possible revival, but it is fragile.
“Over 5% of each candidate results [in the upcoming presidential contest] It’ll be a good score. Barthridlinsky, a political scientist at the Stefan Visinsky Cardinal University in Warsaw, said:
He grants Zandberg a “rebooting the Razem Party Project” by appealing to younger voters. “Recent research shows he is competing with Slaumirmentzen. [the highly popular ultraconservative and free-market-enthusiast leader of the Confederation Party] Become number one among the youngest voters.
“On her side, Magdalena Bihat represents middle-class women and lives in a big city. She is an image of their mirror. The election shows that one of them is more popular.”
Limited charm
In the last presidential election five years ago, Robert Beadron of Lwyka, who is now a Polish member of the European Parliament (MEP), won just 2.2% of the vote. This time, the left side is expected to be better, but its appeal is still limited.
Experts say the left has lost much of the traditional support base of the Nationalist Conservative Law and Justice (PIS) party that attracted voters with its generous welfare package. In this presidential election, PIS-backed Karol Nawrocki is expected to receive a 25% vote in the first round, according to a Politico tally poll.
This is despite the fact that Nowrocky has abandoned his laws and justice commitment to social welfare and embraced free market thinking with a focus on strengthening his alliance with the US while distancing Poland from the EU.
His main competitor, the Center Light Civic Platform’s Rafał Trzaskowski, votes at 31%.
“The left is continuing to try and regain social law and justice voters, but so far it has failed,” Yakub Majmulek, commentator for the left-wing Kritika Politituna media outlet, told Al Jazeera. “First of all, these voters often calculate and feel that law and justice are far more reliable welfare providers than the weaker left.
“Secondly, these voters are primarily pro-churches and are much more conservative on social issues than the left.”
A positive leftist outcome in Sunday’s election could have the effect of bringing left politics back to the agenda, analysts say, and will make some intrusion to reverse the long-term trends of far-right politicians who control the government.
“If the total outcome for Biejat and Zandberg is about 10%, then in the second round of elections, even Trzaskowski or Nawrocki will have to try and claim this leftist voter in some way,” explained Majmurek.
“It’s the best scenario for the left, especially if both candidates receive a similar percentage of votes.
Source link
