In fresh days, a fresh actor appeared in Polish politics, which caused controversy and deep concerns among many Poles. Maciej Maciak, a presidential candidate, was accused by Simon Holovnia, a 3rd Way candidate, of a pro-Russian note in his statements. This allegation is peculiarly dangerous in the context of the current global and Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Pro-Russian note – what does it mean?
According to Szymon Holownia, statements by Maciej Maciak are akin to those of Dmitri Pieskov and Vladimir Putin, which is dangerous for the Polish state. This kind of rhetoric is frequently utilized by Russian politicians and medios to reduce the threat from Russia and increase support for Russian politics among another countries. In the context of Polish politics, this note is peculiarly dangerous due to the fact that it can lead to weakening of the Polish position in the European Union and expanding dependence on Russia.
Maciej Maciak – who is it?
Maciej Maciak is simply a 54-year-old writer from Włocławek, founder of the Prosperity and Peace Movement, which is 1 of 13 registered presidential candidates in May elections. On its YouTube channel, “You must know this”, which presently has almost 67,000 subscribers, it presents itself as an anti-systemist and anti-armourist, advocate for “brotherly” cooperation with neighbours in the east, critic of American capital (also in atomic energy) and ruling Polish elites, for “to strive for a war with Russia that it does not want”.
Relationships with the Russian Federation
Maciej Maciak was accused of ties to the Russian Federation, which was denied by him in his program "You must know this". He stated that he had been vetted and received from the Institute of National Memory "a beautiful opposition card", which is to confirm his deficiency of ties to Russian services. However, there are inactive doubts about his real intentions and connections.
Conclusion
In the context of the current situation of global and Russian aggression against Ukraine, the pro-Russian note in Polish politics is dangerous. Poles must be aware of the risks that may arise from specified rhetoric and verify the information that is given to them. In the upcoming presidential elections, it is crucial to choose a candidate who knows and understands the threats that are facing Poland and is able to effectively counter them.
