Notably absent were the ruling Civic Coalition's (KO) candidate Rafał Trzaskowski and the co-governing New Left’s Magdalena Biejat, who both declined to attend.
Monday’s debate featured right-wing candidate Karol Nawrocki, the far-right Confederation party's Sławomir Mentzen, and the centrist Third Way alliance’s Szymon Hołownia.
Other participants included Adrian Zandberg from the leftist Together party, Grzegorz Braun, a controversial far-right politician representing the Confederation of the Polish Crown grouping, and Marek Jakubiak, a right-wing contender fielded by the Free Republicans.
Also in attendance were left-wing veteran Joanna Senyszyn, economist Artur Bartoszewicz, lawyer Marek Woch and media personality Krzysztof Stanowski, who is running a campaign of irony and sarcasm.
The debate focused on national security, the economy, healthcare and foreign policy, revealing sharp divides, especially on the euro currency, military support for Ukraine, and the role of the European Union.
Almost all candidates opposed adopting the euro, including Mentzen, Hołownia and Nawrocki, who is backed by the opposition Law and Justice party.
Hołownia, who serves as Poland's lower-house Speaker, called the euro debate "pointless," while Mentzen and others insisted the zloty was essential to national sovereignty.
Only Senyszyn, a former lawmaker, pointed out that euro adoption is Poland’s legal obligation under EU treaties.
Security policy featured prominently. Multiple candidates, including Nawrocki, Mentzen and Braun, vowed not to deploy Polish troops to Ukraine.
Nawrocki focused on border security and proposed creating a deportation agency for undocumented migrants.
Zandberg emphasised rebuilding domestic defence industries, while Hołownia claimed Poland could become a global arms exporter.
Senyszyn downplayed the risk of war and advocated redirecting some defence spending to healthcare and housing.
Jakubiak mocked Trzaskowski’s absence by placing a cardboard cutout of him onstage, calling him “a cardboard candidate in a cardboard state.”
The gesture was criticised by Braun, who also noted the absence of another registered candidate, Maciej Maciak.
The debate highlighted contrasting visions for Poland’s future in the European Union. Nawrocki and Mentzen warned against "EU federalism" and vowed to resist further integration.
Braun called for restoring "lost sovereignty," while Senyszyn and Zandberg argued that deeper EU cooperation is in Poland’s strategic interest.
Hołownia said Poland must be a strong player in both the EU and NATO.
Zandberg argued that the influence of money in politics should be reduced. He criticised excessive spending on campaign billboards and advertisements, calling it wasteful, and pointed to the problem of high private donations being allowed in election campaigns.
Healthcare reform proposals ranged from Hołownia’s call for systemic overhaul to Mentzen’s support for a mixed private-public model. Several candidates criticised the National Health Fund (NFZ), with Stanowski and Jakubiak calling for its abolition.
On social issues, Nawrocki said he was open to discussing legal recognition for a “closest person” status but dismissed expectations that he would champion LGBT rights.
Many candidates supported broader use of referenda and digital tools for civic participation. Bartoszewicz promised referenda on key national issues, while Hołownia proposed mandatory national votes for initiatives with broad public backing.
In contrast, Stanowski mocked citizen engagement, saying voters should stop “bothering” politicians.
The next official debate featuring all candidates is expected to take place on May 12.
The debate will be aired by Poland’s three largest television networks: state-run TVP and private broadcasters Polsat and TVN.
The country will vote to elect its next president on May 18, with a second round scheduled for June 1 if needed.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP