Anna Dryjanska: Do you know the Confederacy's demands to the candidates in the second circular of the presidential election, the alleged 8 Mentzen?
Prof. Dariusz Rosati: Yes, I do.
How would you describe her in 1 sentence?
It's a public part of Mentzen's show.
Does that mean the Confederate leader besides has a program that's classified?
The remainder are hidden targets Menzten prefers not to talk about. He wants Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki to search the support of his constituents, but referring only to any of his views. Mentzen knows very well, his voters won't like his full show, so he won't flaunt it. The postulates Mentzen shows the public are just the tip of the iceberg.
What's underneath the water?
For example, a full abortion ban, besides if a female got into unwanted pregnancy as a consequence of rape, due to the fact that it's just "an unpleasantness". A extremist "no" for the European Union and the remainder of Mentzen's infamous 5 is besides camouflaged. These 8 points before the election are proof of self-censorship.
Karol Nawrocki immediately accepted the ideas of the erstwhile Confederate counter-candidate.
Nawrocks, to win, will promise everything. He filmed about Mr. George's apartment: in a fewer twelve hours he presented any false and contradictory versions. Nawrocki's words have no value to me.
Maybe Trzaskowski should have turned down Mentzen's invitation, since he censored his program and Nawrocki outbid him right away.
Trzaskowski did well to accept the invitation. He will have the chance to present his views to Mentzen's supporters, show them what he agrees with and what he does not. Importantly, Trzaskowski will besides be able to address Mentzen's demands, which are dangerous for the state and tell its voters why.
We will return to the threat to Poland's safety through the Confederacy programme. But first I gotta ask: do you agree with any of Mentzen's 8 demands?
Mentzen is right about not sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine. This is the position of the coalition government on October 15, which the Confederacy no longer likes to talk about. We should not send soldiers to the peacekeepers, due to the fact that there has been a "special" relation between our country and Russia for centuries.
Besides, we are very profoundly active on the side of Ukraine. Russia would be easy to organize provocations against Polish soldiers to then say that we are non-objective. Let there be Italians, Portuguese, Spanish, anyone else with whom Russia has no historically hostile relations.
Anything else you agree with Mentzen?
I agree with the 3rd point: "I will not sign any law limiting freedom of expression in accordance with the Polish constitution". In the Basic Act we have strong provisions protecting freedom of speech within the limits set by average standards. Invoking hatred or violence, including the promotion of totalitarian systems, is prohibited.
That's it?
I agree with 1 more point, eight, but I have an crucial reservation...
"I will not sign ratification of any fresh EU treaties weakening the function of Poland".
It's the right call, but I fishy that Sławomir Mentzen and I realize him in a very different way. The function of Poland would weaken the relaxation of relations within the European Union. Meanwhile, Mentzen does not want close military cooperation in Europe, does not want close cooperation between associate States in the field of energy and so on. In this way we find that even part of Mentzen's open program is dangerous for Poland, if you think about it. We'll either be allies of the West or vassal of Russia. This is reality, there is no another possibility.
And sovereignty?
The closest thing the Confederate and the PiS call sovereignty is North Korea. There, the ruler does whatever he can, regardless of his own society or another countries. It is an anachronistic knowing of sovereignty from the 17th-Xth century. If it were common, all country would be surrounded by a wall.
Today's sovereignty is to form relations with the environment to guarantee prosperity and the best conditions for citizens. 1 way is to conclude global agreements erstwhile it pays off for our country. all democratic country has signed and observes hundreds of specified agreements, it's not unusual.
The European Union does not deprive us of our sovereignty – maintaining that it does so is simply a lie. We agree on the division of competences on our own time, due to the fact that our relation with the Union brings us quite a few benefits. It's like a successful marriage: there's a lot more to being together than being apart. We knew that, which is why we said yes in the accession referendum. The lion's part of Poles inactive thinks so, so Mentzen, alternatively of honestly admitting that he wants to lead Poland out of the European Union, the keys and plans how to decision distant from the Community step by step.
People realize that Poland will not keep sovereignty unless it is in a strong alliance with the West. It will be as long as Russia is aggressive, and we know that its aggression has been going on for 400 years. If anyone thinks that after the end of the war against Ukraine Russia will turn into a dove of peace, he is very naive. due to the fact that so naive to believe that Poland without Europe will defend itself against Russia, I don't think there is.
Is Mentzen naive?
I say he's very cynical. He most likely knows that the isolation of Poland, which he calls sovereignty, is contrary to the Polish state's ration. However, his organization builds political capital on it, so he will preach what is being sold due to the fact that it pays off.
For akin reasons Mentzen opposes the entry into the euro area, although firstly it is beneficial for the full Polish society, and secondly Poland itself promised this erstwhile entering the Union.
What about the request to be free to trade cash, which is besides at number two?
It is unnecessary due to the fact that there are no projects to limit it. It's a publicity stunt. Similarly, the sixth demand, which opposes the regulation of access to arms. We already have very restrictive rules and there are no plans to tighten them.
What harm is it to promise that Poles' access to weapons will not be restricted?
Imagine a script where in Poland a wave of crimes we know from the US is spreading: the bomber goes to school, club or buying mall and opens fire on people. Under these circumstances, there should be a regulation on access to weapons on the table.
You're an economics professor, Menzten is simply a doctor...
I do not know what economics he is simply a doctor erstwhile he is protesting the introduction of the euro, which would be a large relief for Polish entrepreneurs. erstwhile Poland enters the euro area, entrepreneurs will not gotta bear the risks and costs of exchanging gold for euro and vice versa. The French or the Germans don't gotta worry about these things at all, for us a abrupt drop in the value of the currency is inactive a serious threat.
In the euro area, Poland will open up a much larger capital marketplace and housing loans will be twice as expensive. Lower interest rates will benefit all households. fresh jobs will be created, the economy will grow much faster. Inflation will be mastered from the euro – after all, Poland had twice as much price increase as the countries of the zone! Unfortunately, the populists proceed to spread fake news about the euro. A fewer years ago, I wrote a book about it called "Euro. Myths and Facts".
Maybe you underestimate the sentimental factor. Many Poles cannot imagine coins without an eagle.
When there is simply a euro in Poland, we can inactive have an eagle on coins. Each region state itself designs the reverse. Unfortunately, many voters do not know about it, and for their ignorance they prey on Kaczyński and Mentzen.
What about the first request concerning taxes?
I'm close to the Confederacy on the issue of taxes. I think taxes should be low, as simple as possible, there should be small relief...
What about eliminating social inequality?
The appropriate level of redistribution can be ensured on the spending side. However, benefits should not go to everyone as they go, but only those who truly request them.
Let us return to point 1 of Mentzen's eighth: "I will not sign any bill that raises existing taxes, contributions and fees to Poles or introduce fresh fiscal burdens for Poles". quite a few voters are going to say that.
The liable president can't commit to blind tax. After all, if, for example, the war came to Poland – hopefully not so – it would be essential to rise taxes on defence. The president of a country resisting an attack must not have tied hands due to the fact that he promised Mentzen something.
Point five. Sławomir Mentzen wants the fresh president of Poland to argue Ukraine's entry into NATO.
This is Putin's one-to-one postulate. The Polish state ration is Ukraine's NATO membership. Of course, not now that there is simply a war, but in the future. Xenophobic right has a problem with Ukraine that takes her sanity. Even the most hard communicative should not obscure the current interests of Poland. And it is in our Polish interest that Ukraine should not lose this war and be a democratic state.
The Polish reason for the state is not a fight with Germany, but a safety from the East. Ukraine in NATO is safer Poland. erstwhile Ukraine joins the Alliance, she will take over the function of his east flank, which is all the better for us.
It is interesting that Mentzen has nothing against Russia at 8 points. It's the Kremlin's agenda.
How should Trzaskowski talk to Mentzen?
He should be very well prepared to give short and pictorial answers. There won't be much time, and Mentzen will bother him. Trzaskowski should prepare respective statements which affect the imagination of Confederate voters. The point is to compare what Mentzen says with what Trzaskowski says and draw their own conclusions.
They must be questioned about the empty or even dangerous phrases of the Confederate. Short ball: inflation is higher erstwhile we have gold. erstwhile we introduce the euro, housing loans will be twice as expensive. The exchange rate will be safe. Entrepreneurs will realize that perfectly.
Rafał Trzaskowski has a chance to show what Mentzen is right about and in what he is incorrect about, and thus gain any of his votes. I want him this would work.
