The German weekly drove through Mentzen. "The cheapest right-wing populism"

natemat.pl 2 months ago
The presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen is "the cheapest version of right-wing populism" – writes the writer of the weekly "Der Spiegel" predicting that the PiS and Confederation will join forces in the future.


"May 18 presidential elections will decide the destiny of the liberal government. In October 2023 Prime Minister Donald Tuskow managed to remove the national-conservative PiS Jarosław Kaczyński from power. Since then, Tusk has managed to implement only a fewer of his projects, due to the fact that there is inactive a conservative Andrzej Duda in the presidential palace, with a veto right," writes Jan Puhl in an article devoted to the Confederate candidate for president Sławomir Mentzen. The material was released in the latest edition of the weekly magazine "Der Spiegel".

The author briefly presented the silhouettes of 2 major rivals: pro-European Rafał Trzaskowski from PO and PiS-backed historian Karol Nawrocki. "Their competition is simply a fixed point of the show. Both feudal camps have been competing for power for 20 years. Many Poles only see Tusk and Kaczyński's "awatary" in them," explains Puhl.

Mentzen uses war and expensive


Due to the war in Ukraine and rising prices, Poland is increasing dissatisfaction – the importance of Mentzen grows on this political dirt – we read in "Spieglu"

In the Mentzen polls, it ranks 3rd “notable” but is almost impossible to become president. However, if it strengthens its position, in the parliamentary elections in 2 years can supply Kaczyński with a majority. Poland would have a nationalist government again," Puhl writes.

"Der Spiegel" noted that Mentzen bases his run on social media. He has already had over 300 meetings with voters. If only men under the age of 40 had the right to vote, he would be close victory.

The author describes the performance of the candidate in Wrocław, pointing out that even here, in a perfectly prosperous city, which is not easy for him, thousands of supporters gathered. Mentzen outlines the contexts of the "right-nationalist world" – criticises Tuska and Kaczyński, who "spent Poland on the EU", imposing abroad customs on Poles, specified as tolerance against sexual minorities. The mark of his attacks is Green Deal, climate protection, migrants. He opposes assistance to Ukraine.

Young men from the village


Mentzen's slogan goes primarily to young men in the countryside and tiny towns. "They feel lost, pushed out by Ukrainian competition from the labour market, rejected by women, left on ice," Puhl quotes Barbara Brodowska-Mirowska.

According to Puhl, Mentzen's slogans are very akin to Nawrock's programme: "immigrants flood Poland, there are only men and women, the climate policy of the EU ruins Poland, German corporations deprive the Polish mediate class of the fruit of their work".

However, Mentzen's content is deprived of "the old-fashioned impression of historical-ideological superstructure". Mentzen offers "a inexpensive solution without historical pathos, without communicative of a brave, constantly fighting for the endurance of Poland". He demands taxation cuts, expulsion of foreigners, resignation from climate protection, abortion ban. "Mentzen is the cheapest version of populists – a discount store of right-wing capitalism," he said.

Mentzen – the cheapest version of populism


According to Puhl, 38-year-old Mentzen is inactive young for politics. The observers believe Nawrocki's defeat is in his favor. The defeat of Nawrocki will weaken Kaczyński and open fresh opportunities for younger PiS politicians, specified as Przemysław Czarnek, who do not fear contact with Mentzen. The PiS and the Confederacy can merge in the future.

Tusk's triumph in 2023 was a tactical triumph – he won not due to the fact that he took the PiS voters, but due to the fact that he had coalitions. This may change soon," Jan Puhl in "Spieglu" concludes.

Written by Jacek Lepiarz, Deutsche Welle


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