The event, scheduled for April 11 at 8 p.m. in Końskie, a town of 32,000 in central Poland often seen as a symbol of provincial life, will feature Trzaskowski, the leading candidate from the Civic Coalition (KO), and Nawrocki, the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), who is supported by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party and currently ranks second in the polls.
The discussion will be broadcast by TVP, TVN24, and Polsat News, with moderators Joanna Dunikowska-Paź (TVP), Grzegorz Kajdanowicz (TVN24), and Piotr Witwicki (Polsat News), according to the Polish state news agency PAP.
Biejat confirms participation in TVP, TVN, and Polsat debate, rejects TV Republika event
Magdalena Biejat, a Polish left-wing politician and presidential candidate, has confirmed her intention to participate in the debate organized by TVP, TVN, and Polsat, major broadcasters in Poland.
As confirmed by Polish Radio, she has decided not to join the event organized by TV Republika, a station associated with far-right and nationalist views.
"See you in Końskie, Szymon Hołownia. And if PO (Civic Platform) and PiS (Law and Justice) decide they want to close themselves off from democracy, I propose a second debate. Let’s talk in Końskie about our visions for Poland," Magdalena Biejat wrote on social media.
Debate Drama: Trzaskowski, Nawrocki, and... Hołownia with Biejat prepare for rival debates
One debate, scheduled for 8 p.m., will be organized by TVP, TVN, and Polsat, with Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki expected to participate.
The candidate supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) party has expressed his willingness to participate in a debate with the Civic Coalition candidate, provided that TV Republika and wPolsce24 are co-organizers. However, the Civic Coalition’s campaign has rejected this proposal.
As a result, TV Republika has proposed hosting its own debate, scheduled for 6:50 p.m. Invitations have been extended to both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki.
While Trzaskowski has not yet responded, Nawrocki has confirmed his participation in the event, which will be held in the town square in Końskie. Szymon Hołownia, who also wants to take part in the debate organized by TVN, Polsat, and TVP, is expected to join him.
Końskie, in central Poland, has become a symbolic representation of small-town, provincial Poland, where electoral success is believed to depend on addressing local concerns - an idea first introduced by Grzegorz Schetyna of the Civic Platform after the party's defeat in the 2015 parliamentary elections.
UPDATE: Polish presidential hopefuls split over Friday’s debates in Końskie
As reported by the Polish state news agency PAP, Joanna Senyszyn - a veteran left-wing politician and economist - has confirmed she will take part in Friday’s 8 p.m. debate and also plans to attend the upcoming debate hosted by TV Republika next week.
Meanwhile, Marek Jakubiak, a presidential candidate representing the Free Republicans (Wolni Republikanie), announced he will attend both rival debates scheduled for Friday in Końskie.
In contrast, far-right Confederation candidate Sławomir Mentzen has ruled out attending either event.
“I’m running a serious campaign,” he said, citing previously scheduled meetings with voters in southeastern Poland. Mentzen also criticized the debates as chaotic and confirmed he would instead take part in a separate debate organized by nationalist broadcaster TV Republika on Monday.
Poland’s presidential election will take place on May 18. A runoff - required if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote - is scheduled for June 1, 2025.
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Source: IAR/PAP/Polish Radio/X/@MagdaBiejat/@PAPinformacje