– We realize that we can't convince the PiS voters in any way. It's a windmill fight. But voters indecisive who hesitate? Absolutely. There's individual to fight for, and Rafal's visits show that he wants to fight for these people. He wants to show them how he managed Warsaw, what his action plan is. These visits request more and more – says Alicja Lepkowska-Gołas from Łomża.
When he talks to voters of another parties whose candidates – as he says – scrub after the bottom of the polls – he even hears that they do not want to vote for them. – They see that the advantage in the first circular will be of large importance for attendance in the second round. And they want to vote for Rafał," he adds.
In general, he sees things change in this region.
Let us remind, in 2020, the presidential election was won here by Andrzej Duda with the consequence of 60% of the vote. Rafał Trzaskowski had 40 percent support.
PO messenger about Podlasie: – You can see the change of attitude
– I see large changes. I can see the movement. I see quite a few people coming to me for a banner. How easy it was for us to collect signatures. People even printed signatures themselves and brought them to me. More and more people come to meetings. On April 9, we had meetings as part of the action "Women with Trzaski" in Drogoshev, Zambrowa, Lomza. At 5 p.m. in Zambrow, we had to buy chairs. You can see a change of attitude. I think people were tired of erstwhile power and want to finish this change," says Alicja Łepkowska-Gołas.
It besides notes that there is greater openness in the region. That in Zambrowa, where the Red Bór hotel is located, women were appalled. They said, "The center has been in operation for 20 years, we've been interacting with these people, and nothing happened, and why is individual turning on a hatred spiral now?"
He besides mentions that there are many banners of Rafał Trzaskowski throughout the province. But there's quite a few damage.
– In my opinion, you can see that your opponents are afraid. due to the fact that only the banners of Rafał Trzaskowski are destroyed. We have any surveillance footage. The police are working with us, checking them out. These are organized actions. individual pulls up in the car, the another individual gets out and breaks the banners. And either he's hiding them so they can't be hung again, either they're cut or the face is cut. I faced something like this myself in my campaign. My eyes were cut out. Even breasts – he says.
In 2023, Alicja Łepkowska-Gołas as the first MP of PO from Łomża, where he won the PiS, got into the Sejm. – It was very symbolic that this wall of the PiS broke and broke. That 8 years of PiS in power caused people to get tired of it and wanted to clean up," he says.
How is Rafał Trzaskowski facing this wall?
– You can see he understands Podlasie and the full province. If he comes to Łomża, he starts the run with buying in the store and buys products from Piątnica or Mikolovita, it shows that he understands that you support local entrepreneurs of Polish producers is the way to the success of Poles and Poles – says the MP.
"There were crowds in the room. The full area was full"
It was from Podlasie that Rafał Trzaskowski even started his election campaign. He was here in January. He met with entrepreneurs, with local government, photographed Zenk Martyniuk. Now he's back again. This time, the gathering took place in the hall of Primary School No. 49 in Białystok. It was Sunday, April 6th.
The leader of the Podlaskie PO, Krzysztof Truskolaski called before the meeting: – Let us show that the Podlaskie Voivodeship is behind Rafał Trzaskowski.
There were crowds in the room. The full area was full. There are allegations that there was a passage on the sides, but the hall must have a safe exit on the side," says Piotr Laczo, a councillor from the close Catch who was at this meeting.
These were not crowds as at meetings with Sławomir Mentzen, who was besides in Białystok, which his opponents immediately picked up. But the weight is different, too.
Agnieszka Zabrocka, a councillor from Białystok: – There were quite a few people. I'm certain a lot more than the first gathering in January. Then the gathering took place at the City Stadium, there was a smaller room. Compared to that, there were crowds now.
How is the president of Warsaw doing in Podlasie?
Councilwoman: – surely Trzaskowski does not surrender and does not consider the site lost
– In his speech, he referred to the fact that he was repeatedly asked about how the run was conducted in Podlasie. And he said it was very good for him. He surely does not give up, and he does not consider the area lost. It's crucial to me that it sees our place. That it is not Poland forgotten. And that he makes different gestures toward us. It's hard to know if it'll work. I hope so," says Agnieszka Zabrocka.
He emphasizes very much what Trzaskowski said to them.
– It was a large bow towards Podlasie and the people of Białystok. He talked about crucial things for us, and he pointed out our problems. And they're beautiful circumstantial due to the fact that part of the country considers us very dangerous. He talked a lot about security, and this is simply a very crucial issue in Podlasie, he says.
With these topics, he thinks, Trzaskowski may find himself in Podlasie to the undecided. due to the fact that they're crucial to people here.
– I think it's a good move. And in the right way Rafał Trzaskowski utilized the time. It seems to me that it is possible to encourage those who hesitate to go to elections and to vote for Rafał Trzaskowski especially in the second round. I hope this will be the case," says Agnieszka Zabrocka.
"We hope that Rafał Trzaskowski will visit even more smaller towns in Podlasie"
Piotr Graczo recalls that Trzaskowski had previously visited Młokivita or Pronar, 1 of the largest agricultural machinery companies in Poland. That he's dating entrepreneurs. And that he announced his support for the Shield East, which is very crucial to people here.
– Our region is at the interface of respective countries. It is the border of NATO and the EU. The inhabitants of the voivodship are waiting for investments related to armaments. Rafał Trzaskowski announced that as president he would support the task Shields East and bet that as many sub-ladies companies as possible would be active in this project. These are billions of zlotys that can decision our Podlasie manufacture – he emphasises.
He adds: – We hope that Rafał Trzaskowski will visit even more smaller towns in Podlaski. Welcome to the Catch.
Catch councilman: "See that change is slow"
The question about the bastion of the PiS, however, gives emergence to mixed feelings. due to the fact that the full Podlasie is not PiS. And in another parts of Poland everyone is usually thrown in 1 bag.
– Podlasie is simply a diverse area. It is not clear that it is simply a bastion of PiS. Bielski County, Hajnowski County, Siemiatycki region is simply a subregion in the south of the voivodship, where always PO has much more support than PiS. Suwałki, Sejny – there people are more balanced and the distribution of its forces leveled. In Bialystok at the City Council, most have PO. But in the Bialystok district, most have the Law and Justice – so Piotr Laczo briefly explains the political topography of the region.
But he besides sees that change is slow taking place. Although, as he points out, it is not a spectacular change that the full voivodship abruptly votes differently.
– In expanding numbers of cities that were previously bastions of PiS, something has changed," he notes.
An example?
City of Czyżev. There, PiS has 2 representatives in parliament, MP and senator. But in the local election, the PiS mayoral candidate lost to an independent candidate. In this case, it may be correct to say that in the toughest bastion of the Law and Justice, residents talk rather – he says.
After the last municipal elections with the authorities after 33 years, the Sokoły municipality mayor supported by PiS besides said goodbye. – And the deputy president of Łomża became a PO member, the erstwhile manager of the PO office in Białystok. In addition, after the last election, the Sejm and the board of the Podlaskie Voivodeship co-founded the coalition of the PO and the 3rd Way. This is simply a major change, due to the fact that the marshal of the voivodship represents the PO – indicated the councilman.
Rafal Trzaskowski says:
– I justice him very well as president of Warsaw. Warsaw has caught up, and in any aspects it has driven distant the largest European capitals. I besides believe that it is good, like the majority of parliament, that the government and the president are of the same option, due to the fact that quite a few good can be done. And for these good things, as residents of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, we are waiting.
