Jaskowiak vs. self-government opposition – a study from the debate of candidates for the president of the City of Poznań

Candidates for the position of president of the City of Poznań, photograph by Bartłomiej Kolano

On Friday, 22 March a debate of candidates for the office of president of the City of Poznań took place in the hall of the Faculty of Political Sciences and Journalism at Adam Mickiewicz University. During this event, organized by the Political Marketing discipline Club, Radio Meteor and the Union of Wielkopolska were presented to all those who competed in the election on 7 April. There were no shortages of clashes between the current president, Jack Jaskowiak, and his rivals, which clearly clouded the substantive part of their statements.

All invited guests – the city president Jacek Jaśkowiak, as well as his competitors from another groups – Zbigniew Czerwiński, Łukasz Garczewski, Przemysław Plewiński and Beata Urbańska were present. The debate was opened by the dean Andrzej Stelmach. At first, each associate received 2 minutes to self-present and then a chance to address 3 issues proposed by the university and Radio Meteor. The participants were then able to ask 2 questions to the candidates they had chosen. Later, time was provided for queries from viewers – both live ones and followers of the net broadcast, and in the end, everyone active was asked to summarize why it was worth giving their vote on them.

Knowledge of candidates

He was the first to introduce himself to the typical of the United Right, Zbigniew Czerwiński. He emphasized first of all his long-standing connection with local government activity – initially at the Adam Mickiewicz University, which he graduated from, later at the Poznań City Council and the Wielkopolska state Seymik, where he held the position of chairman. He announced that as president he would focus primarily on budgetary issues.

The microphone was then taken over by Łukasz Garczewski, exhibited by the Poznań Social Group. He told about his disability – it was the desire to face her publically that led him to the Rataje Settlement Council, as well as the application of his candidacy for the office of president and the Poznań City Council. He announced that he intended to make Poznań a more modern and European city, which he supported with his experience in business and social organizations.

The current president of the city, Jacek Jaskowiak, representing the Civic Coalition, was inactive in line. He emphasized his close relation with Poznań, in which he was born, graduated from school, studied, and presently works. He besides mentioned his passion for sport, as well as links with urban movements. He has held office since 2014, so he ruled the city during opposition regulation of Law and Justice, coronavirus pandemic and war in Ukraine. He besides recalled much better relations with the current government and Prime Minister than it had before October 15, which increases the chances of additional benefits for the city.

The next talker was Przemysław Plewiński from the 3rd Road. He introduced himself as an acquaintance, and graduated from St Mary Magdalene advanced School and the Faculty of Law of the UAM. He besides carries out postgraduate studies at the Poznań University of Technology, is passionate about programming and worked earlier in the Sejm committees and Extraclasses. He was pushed into politics by discontent with the regulation of the Law and Justice and besides the improvement of the city of Poznań. He announced that if he won, he would overtake another cities specified as Wrocław or Gdańsk.

The last spoke the only female on the list, Beata Urbańska from the fresh Left. She's besides an acquaintance and a postgraduate of UAM. She is professionally active with financial consultancy, but besides has self-government activities in the housing council in Środka and 2 word offices in the Poznań City Council. She recalled the demands that she managed to implement in it – co-financing to increase the number of places in nurseries, in vitro programs and free urban communication for children and young people. There was besides an adjunct towards the current President, who resigned from the second initiative.

First questions – another bump between participants?

Adam Mickiewicz University and Radio Meteor faculty editorial squad prepared 3 questions to be answered in turn by each candidate. The first was about the strengths and weaknesses of Poznań. The advantages include location, green areas, residents – including the presence of young people, entrepreneurship, urban communication, history, low unemployment or good air quality. Much of these responses were repeated among the participants. Not all of them were able to mention the disadvantages – Jacek Jaskowiak emphasized that acquaintances are sometimes not arrogant of their historical achievements or the improvement of the city. Łukasz Garczewski listed bureaucracy, air quality and public transport as disadvantages in clear opposition to the President. Zbigniew Czerwiński felt that the opportunities for cooperation with the region and opportunities for improvement were not full exploited.

The issue of precedence investments in the fresh self-government word was then addressed. Here too, it is easy to announcement any convergences – each candidate's programs repeated: urban communication, construction of roads, apartments, dormitories, sports centres, or modernization of the Arena.

The last chance to talk was to improve the situation of young people, especially students. Here besides there were no new, distinctive ideas – most of the answers repeated among all candidates and covered with the erstwhile question. The main references were housing, dormitories, workplaces and public transport. any of the answers differed somewhat from the subject or possible competences of the city president. The prices on the housing market, which are welcome in the debate, require national alternatively than local regulation. The criticism of the typical of Social Poznań regarding the stopping of trams at the intersections besides seemed absurd.

A phase of common questions, or alternatively of pretension

The most emotional part was the part where candidates asked each another questions. There was no deficiency of criticism about Jack Jaskowiak's presidency. His opponents mentioned the deficiency of funds from the government, the weak situation of public transport, the way another people from the organization he represented approach the housing market, investment in the city or government gross for the city. The president seemed prepared for specified allegations and clarified all these issues in a reasonably concrete way. The divisions between circumstantial political groups have clearly appeared – the representatives of the ruling coalition bit the members of the United Right. Jaskowiak besides raised the issue that Garczewski, representing Social Poznań, is truly connected with the Left Together. any questions clearly deviated from the subject and answered. This part was more like a conflict for verbal missiles and as a consequence the tension between the participants was more palpable than the desire to present themselves to the audience and encourage them to vote for themselves.

Confronting students and net users

Towards the end, participants were given an chance to ask questions in the auditorium and net users. This section opened the question of the position concerning the meetings and activities of LGBT+ associations addressed to Zbigniew Czerwiński. He immediately denied the anticipation that they would be banned, "if they stay within the limits of the law." All candidates were besides asked about the little apparent issues – the situation of the Maltese settlement, as well as the protection of monuments and multicultural heritage of the city. The current president besides responded to the previously raised issues of air quality and renovation. Here he besides tried to defend himself, but he referred more to circumstantial data than to the root of these problems.

Who is worth voting for – it remains unanswered?

In summary, each associate was to encourage each another to vote for each another for the last time. Beata Urbańska encouraged to participate in the elections and presented the Left as an alternate to PO and PiS. She besides recalled the presence of women and young people on her lists. Przemysław Plewiński has besides presented himself as an alternate to these groups and the Left, which he believes is full cooperating with KO. He besides stated that he was a more forward-looking candidate than his older opponents. Jacek Jaskowiak recalled the good contacts with the government and felt that we should be arrogant of Poznań and its universities against the background of Poland and Europe. Łukasz Garczewski promised to perceive to the needs of the inhabitants and to give them real influence on the city. Zbigniew Czerwiński stressed that the ruling government should be removed from the strategy for respective years. He assured that he would make free and creative Poznań and he would not introduce censorship, as according to him his competitors do so due to political correctness.

I encourage you to look at the debate and get your own opinion: https://www.youtube.com/live/l_tYlv16zJs?si=tjOCQADspzC_UYcN

GARCHIAN OIL