The municipality of Mielnik nad Bug is located in the south-eastern part of Podlaskie Voivodeship. It borders straight on the east side with Belarus, which makes it a strategical function in the region.
It was here that the celebrated author Katarzyna Bond planted the action of her debut fresh "The Nina Frank Case".
But a long time later, the municipality brought something else...
The last organization spoiled us.
Five years ago, during the last presidential run in the municipality of Mielnik, there was a unique solution that attracted the attention of the media and the public. In the election overtime candidates: Rafał Trzaskowski and Andrzej Duda, won precisely the same votes here – after 690.
Such an election draw is rare. And it symbolically reflects a deep political division.
Marcin Urbański, the mayor of the commune, remembers that day as very special, although initially nothing announced it.
– It started as usual, we came to work. And abruptly the phones rang. Media from all over Poland called – he recalls in an interview with Temat.pl. It was a truly large surprise. If I remember correctly, only 4 local governments in the country had a case where candidates received precisely the same number of votes.
Indeed, an election draw or a very akin number of votes appeared in the municipalities of Łubianka (Kujawsko-pomorskie province), Zwierzyn ( Lubuskie province) and Srokowo (Warmia-Masurian province).
Although the consequence amazed everyone, the run itself – as Urbański emphasizes – ran calmly.
– As today, the 2 main parties dominated. Although the current ruling party, as then, did not show much interest in tiny municipalities like ours. At the time, I expected a very akin result, both for president Duda and Mr Trzaskowski. But no of us expected that it would be so accurate, as to the letter, the division of votes – the mayor recalls.
And he adds:
– Currently, we can announcement more banners of Mr. Karol Nawrocki than of Mr. Rafał Trzaskowski. I do not know the voting preferences of young people, so I find it hard to say whether the votes focus mainly on these 2 poll leaders, or whether they are more dispersed, for example on younger candidates, like Sławomir Mentzen.
The mayor emphasizes that despite the differences between planet views and political differences, the inhabitants of the municipality can cooperate with each other.
He admits that for now pre-election emotions are alternatively subdued, but he does not know how long it will take.
– I am not hiding that the erstwhile ruling organization has spoiled us a small erstwhile it comes to various types of funding. Especially while building a barrier on the border. Although the roads were then heavy distributed (by dense equipment – ep.ed.), at the same time financial resources appeared.
And he adds:
– possibly now emotions are small, but they will most likely happen if the stagnation occurs again in our region. Most of all, I am afraid that we will be marginalised again in terms of backing or even the point of view of the authorities: from the provincial level to the central level in Warsaw.
As the mayor continues, that's what the villagers are most afraid of.
– The issue of the border situation is slow quiet, and the Shield East program is inactive in its infancy. In fact, we have no thought what will happen to him next – he admits.
The worry of the mayor is besides compounded by the deep demographic crisis in Mielnik Municipality.
As she points out, it all happens despite good nursery and kindergarten infrastructure.
It's just that the municipality is depopulating.
– Only those “great grandfather” remain. Not only in our municipality, but in the full border zone, in the districts of Bielski, Siemiacki and Hajnowski, the situation looks very worrying. I have late seen a demographic map on which our region has been marked as “black spots”: areas with the top depopulation. The number of births is very low from year to year.
The reason for this situation is seen, among others, in the position at the border with Belarus and media reports of the migration crisis.
– It all makes people afraid to settle here. Although, in my opinion, we're 1 of the safest places in the country right now. This is thanks to the presence of uniformed services – explains Urbański.
Finally, erstwhile asked about what you can want him as the leader of the municipality, he answers without hesitation.
- Perseverance. And possibly a way to attract an investor who would change the local reality. 1 that could stimulate interest in the area through a larger investment. I want people would believe it was worth staying here. That it's a good place to spend your life, or at least rise your children.
"Dure on Trzaskowski"
The owner of a dynamic tourist business in the municipality of Mielnik (name for the editorial board) at the beginning of the conversation reserves that she does not talk about politics with anyone. Even with my family.
– It's always a hard subject – it justifies. – My in-laws are very politically involved. My husband and I always effort to steer us towards each other, but we don't give up. We're cutting it off. We have our opinions. So in order to live together, we don't contact the subject at all. That's erstwhile you live best.
And he adds, "Everybody knows what their views are. But if God forbid individual starts something, it's getting hot. Here in the municipality, most are for the PiS.
He remembers a well-known draw from the 2020 presidential election erstwhile Rafał Trzaskowski and Andrzej Duda received the same number of votes in the municipality.
“I actually have 1 anecdote from that time,” he says. My father-in-law was on his way to the field. tv was, they were interviewing him, and they just stopped him to talk. And he plainly says: We all voted the same, only my boy of a fool voted for Trzaskovsky. Then I laughed with my husband: “Look how individual knows your father, he already knows who you voted for.” And they even showed it on Teleexpress!
She moved here 13 years ago. She came after her husband, who's here with Granddad.
– I run tourism and a cafe. It utilized to be great, but first it was COVID, then war. People are scared. Even my friends called and asked if we were afraid to live here. They said, "If you want to run, we'll help."
But she doesn't want to run away.
– I'll leave all this and where will I go? Start over? I can't imagine.
As he says, present tourists mostly come for a while. - On bikes, cars. They'll come, they'll see and they'll keep going. They only sleep erstwhile there's a party, like a birthday party, a household reunion. But quite a few people visit the cafe, mostly from around here. little locals.
She's worried about the same thing as the mayor: that Mielnik is dramatically depopulating.
In her opinion, this is due to the fact that there is no occupation for young people.
“Attractions in Mielnik could give jobs, for example individual would sale tickets, tour tourists,” he notes. – But most amusement is free and self-service. The municipality has no income due to the fact that there are neither fees nor business taxes.
And continues: – There are no guides, there is no service. Tourists come and see and go. And the villagers? They must be looking for work elsewhere. Not everyone is an artist, not everyone can work remotely. Most people just want a unchangeable occupation – 8 hours and home. And their own business is afraid. I work a lot, and I don't complain, but it's truly essential to want and have an thought for myself.
He frequently goes to the localities lying on the border: Niemirov, Wilanów, Koterki, where he runs workshops with seniors.
People live in peace. It's normal. Life is inactive going on – he assures.
PiS gave for children, but now it's time to change
The municipality resident (name for the editorial board) looks forward to a large marketplace in Mielnik. I heard Dino's gonna be standing here, but it's inactive not gonna be enough.
– I have already seen 2 circumstantial groups of tourists – he convinces. – possibly a small little people come after this shooting (it's about an incidental involving a drunk soldier in fresh Year – ed.). We're yet close to the border. Generally, times are uncertain. Like a war, a man doesn't know what might happen.
Is he scared?
– At first I was afraid – he admits. I have 2 children. Things happen, and I don't want the war to turn to our side. No 1 would. Fear remained after this incident. As I can see, the large military equipment that goes to Niemirov, it's a man's blood pressure.
The resident notices that traffic at the border has increased recently.
As he says, the large problem with the municipality is the deficiency of prospects. And pensioners take distant young jobs.
– Young people have no place to work, then they do circuses, drink. due to the fact that what should they do? – he says with understanding.
She adds that her son, who is only 16, has already made a decision to leave.
– He told me he didn't want to stay in Minil. He wants bigger prospects, he chose an IT school. She's got it all in her head.
Our caller's doing any cleaning.
– Like many another people here – he emphasizes. I can't make a deal due to the fact that I don't have custody of a younger child. But I like doing it. erstwhile I even wanted to start a cleaning company, only plans got crossed.
Five years after the celebrated presidential draw, nothing peculiar happened.
The municipality is dying. There is 1 Arhelan (Polish food chain – ed.), there utilized to be more. Even the Panoramas are no longer present. There's only 1 vacation left, but if you go in there, you can odor the old commune. always since I was a kid, I remember it was a drunk place.
He assures us that the people of Mielnik can stick together.
– I have a good relation with my neighbors. People ask, they're interested, they help. I feel that we are a community – he says with conviction.
However, it does not hide that all year in Mielnik there is more and more emptiness.
– We have truly beautiful places here, Mount Rowska, Castle Mountain... The area is unique. But everything's starting to freeze. It utilized to be loud, full of people, it happened. present there are only Music Dialogues over Bug. And people would like something new. It's just, as they say, everyone's not gonna be happy. Even the mayor won't meet all expectations.
He besides mentions the place where he lives, and which not all associate with Mielnik.
– And all due to the fact that we're a small isolated due to the fact that we're separated by a forest that needs to be passed through. It makes us feel a small forgotten. Off the grid.
We ask what Poland would like for itself and its children.
– surely better than now – he answers without hesitation. You hear a lot about thefts, scams. Good thing there's money for kids. I usage a tourist voucher, I get 800+ twice. I'm inactive learning, I'm doing extra work, so it would be hard without it. It's just a shame that any people spend that money on stupidity, and then the kids at school say they don't have the basics. household allowances stand inactive like they're magic. And with 800+, you can at least send a kid on a school trip.
Mielnik's flat assures that although she does not like politics, she will go to elections.
– I watched the debate, sat there till half past 2:00 in the morning. Everyone's fighting, the country is divided. But you gotta choose something with children in mind, not just yourself.
Who will he vote for?
Less Hate
Agnieszka Radź-Fiłoc serves as the village chieftain Mielnik's first term.
“I like working with people, I wanted to effort my strength, to see what it looked like from the inside, to effort out a small bit,” he explains briefly his decision to engage in local matters.
She's a long-distance politician. I don't identify with any party, I don't belong to anyone. I am not curious in the views of voters, it is simply a private substance for me – it cuts the topic.
After a while, however, he tells more.
In her opinion, politics does not affect everyday relationships between people.
– Before the election, we live here as we always do. It's a very individual matter. possibly there's any politics in there, but there's no large deal. We're a tiny community, we all know each other. I talk to my neighbors, but not politics.
He smiles at the election 5 years ago.
It was a shock. 690 to 690. Perfect draw.
We're asking the chief about the pre-election atmosphere.
– Election banners hang, though not crowded. I haven't seen the flyers. But everything happens culturally. Let each election live alone, in peace – says Agnieszka Radj-Fiłoc.
She does not participate in the committee's work, but she notes that there are no shortages of volunteers.
– It's an additional income, people are happy to volunteer," he says.
When asked what Poland would like after the election, he answers briefly:
- Relax. To be little hate, little jealousy.
