During a meeting with voters, Biejat, a deputy Speaker of Poland's upper house, the Senate, and a presidential candidate for the New Left group, described state resilience as a "neglected element" of the Eastern Shield defense strategy.
She argued that security should not be limited to military spending but should also include stable institutions and public confidence in the state.
Speaking at the 10th European Local Government Congress in the northeastern resort of Mikołajki earlier this week, Biejat criticized past governments for weakening public trust and state institutions.
"Unfortunately, for years, successive governments have undermined both trust in the state and our institutions," she said.
She highlighted lessons from the war in Ukraine, stressing the importance of efficient rail transport, healthcare and postal services.
She also underscored the role of cooperation with nongovernmental organizations in strengthening the country’s resilience.
Right to freedom of choice
Discussing security in the context of the upcoming election, Biejat pointed to issues affecting everyday life, particularly those concerning women, such as abortion rights, reproductive healthcare, employment and access to medical services.
She criticized politicians for failing to prioritize these concerns despite campaign promises.
Biejat said that the state must respect citizens and their right to freedom of choice.
"Every woman should have the right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy with fetal abnormalities to term, and the state should support her regardless of her decision," she said.
She also argued that people should have real choices when it comes to housing, whether to buy with a mortgage or rent, and that the state must ensure these options are viable.
She called for greater social solidarity, arguing that true freedom requires state support.
"That means the very wealthy must pay slightly higher taxes, as should large corporations that exploit loopholes to avoid paying taxes in Poland," she stated.
Thinking beyond short-term electioneering
Biejat urged politicians to think beyond short-term electioneering.
"We need to stop focusing on campaign optics and dramatic headlines. Instead of staging photo ops with military equipment, we should be thinking about Poland’s long-term strategic interests," she said.
She criticized politicians who struggle to move beyond daily political squabbles and fail to develop responsible public policies and international strategies.
When asked what distinguishes her from centrist candidate Rafał Trzaskowski, Biejat responded: "I always tell the truth, and I won’t change my views based on polling results."
She added that while she is open to dialogue, her opinions are shaped by discussions, not by shifting political trends.
"Voting for me means you know what you’re getting – a solid candidate, not an unknown quantity," she declared.
'Social media platforms trap us in echo chambers'
Biejat also addressed the challenges of political discourse in the digital age, criticizing social media for deepening divisions and spreading disinformation.
She reiterated her call for regulations on the platform X, formerly Twitter, despite facing backlash.
"Social media platforms trap us in echo chambers, amplify negativity and promote conflict through algorithms beyond our control," she said.
She expressed concern over the influence of foreign tech giants and welcomed efforts by Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs to combat online disinformation and deepfake content.
"Regimes like Putin’s exploit these tools to manipulate elections, influence public sentiment and destabilize Poland. Addressing this is a matter of national security," she said.
She argued that the president should play a key role in shaping regulatory measures in cooperation with the government and European Union institutions.
She also called for giving social media users more control over how their data is used.
Biejat last month accused US billionaire Elon Musk of using social media to manipulate European public debate and election processes.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP