The ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party on Sunday held a rally near the southeastern city of Rzeszów, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński told voters that the government sought to “make Poles aware of the value of their history” so that “Polish people can feel proud of themselves.”
He added that schools were being tasked with teaching patriotism and that the government was delivering “the biggest-ever cultural policy.”
Kaczyński, who serves as deputy prime minister, noted that last month saw the launch of the new Polish History Museum.
Poland says no to illegal migrants: conservative leader
The Polish conservative leader urged voters to take part in the parliamentary election on October 15, and also cast their ballots in a nationwide referendum on the same day on issues including illegal migration, the PAP news agency reported.
At a rally in the eastern city of Lublin on Saturday, Kaczyński reiterated his opposition to the European Union’s plan to share out asylum seekers against member states.
“We are unequivocally against relocation,” he said.
Kaczyński told supporters that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had "vetoed" the EU migration plan at an informal summit in the Spanish city of Granada on Friday.
Elections 'about whether we will remain in the EU': opposition leader
Meanwhile, Donald Tusk, the leader of the main opposition grouping, the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), said on Saturday that the upcoming elections were about “the future of Poland ... about whether we will remain in the EU or not.”
Tusk, a former prime minister and European Council president, told voters in the central city of Płock that the ruling conservatives had “a scenario for taking Poland out of the EU.”
He also argued that the elections would represent “a battle for the elementary rights of women.”
Tusk told his supporters that the current government "has already attempted to diminish women’s rights” and so the October 15 ballot would represent “an absolutely fundamental choice when it comes to the future of the Polish women.”
Affordable housing, 35-hour workweek, abortion rights: New Left
The New Left grouping, another major player in Polish politics, reiterated its electoral manifesto at a policy conference in the southern city of Będzin on Saturday.
The group has pledged to build affordable public housing, introduce a 35-hour workweek, relax abortion rights and extend childcare, among other policies, the PAP news agency reported.
Former President Aleksander Kwaśniewski said in Będzin that the New Left had “capable politicians and clear policy proposals” and called on voters to give the left-wingers a chance to deliver on their promises.
He added that left-wing groups were a “guarantor of women’s rights, a lay state and better public services.”
'Strong state, well-paid jobs': Third Way
Meanwhile, the Third Way alliance said the elections on October 15 would decide Poland’s future.
The alliance’s co-leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a policy conference in the southern city of Kraków that the Third Way would deliver “progress, a strong state and well-paid jobs,” as well as lower taxes and equal access to education for everyone, the PAP news agency reported.
He added that the new government’s main task would be to heal social rifts and bring about a “reconciliation” among Poles.
Poland needs 'new kind of politics:' Confederation
The far-right Confederation grouping said it was aiming to become “Poland’s third-strongest political grouping,” the wnp.pl website reported.
At election rallies in the eastern city of Lublin on Friday and in Warsaw on Saturday, party leaders Krzysztof Bosak and Sławomir Mentzen said Poland needed ”a new kind of politics,” adding their grouping would ensure a strong position for the country in the EU, as well as economic growth and efficient public finances, according to news outlets.
Tax cuts, free public transport, better health service: Non-Partisan Activists
The Non-Partisan Local Government Activists grouping presented its election manifesto at a policy conference in Szeligi near Warsaw on Saturday.
The group pledged to reduce the personal income tax to 0 percent, abolish fares for public transport and ensure free meals for school children, as well as employ doctors from outside the EU to reduce waiting times in the national health service, the PAP news agency reported.
Poles to elect new parliament on October 15
In August, Poland's lawmakers approved a plan to combine parliamentary elections with a nationwide referendum on issues including illegal migration.
Voters will head to the ballot box on October 15 to elect 460 new MPs and 100 senators for a four-year term.
The ruling conservative Law and Justice party and its government coalition allies have maintained a clear lead over the opposition in most recent surveys, polling ahead of the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), the far-right Confederation group, the New Left, and the Third Way coalition of the rural-based Polish People’s Party (PSL) and the centre-right Poland 2050 grouping.
If it wins the election, the United Right coalition led by PiS and containing its two small allies, Sovereign Poland and the Republicans, may not be able to form a majority in parliament on its own.
The ruling conservatives in 2019 won a convincing victory over opposition parties at the ballot box, securing a second term in power.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, wnp.pl, onet.pl