If support for candidates for the Polish president is measured by the number of posters with their images, it can be said that Rafał Trzaskowski on Podkarpacie furory will not do. His face can be seen in Rzeszów itself (in respective cases the staff bought out truly immense banners) or Przemyśl, but erstwhile we enter smaller towns and villages in the region, the candidate of the Civic Coalition simply does not exist. It's not like his posters aren't showing much. They're not there at all.
There's a... Confederate leader in Podkarpacie advertises on thousands of fences, gates, barriers separating the pavement from the street or larger billboards set on scaffolds. This is simply a large surprise, due to the fact that in the poster-billboard "inside war" Mentzen definitely wins in the south-eastern state with Karol Nawrocki. The PiS candidate in Podkarpacie can be seen very often, but little than Mentzen. Ba! In many villages, the president of the Institute of National Memory is little visible even than... Grzegorz Braun.
That's another surprise. The ultra-right-wing, controversial Euro MP with his staff in the run in Podkarpacie must have engaged considerable force and resources. Braun's posters in Podkarpackie cities and villages are so much that even if they were printed “at costs” they had to cost a large sum.
Tomasz Mateusiak/Onet / OnetArmored cars of the Polish Army riding on the streets. In many cities the Polish view would be shocking. In border Przemysl, it is not unusual. The proximity of Ukraine besides determines the electoral preferences of the people of the region
The top motivation to vote? Aversion to... Tuska
— In our voivodship, the right will win decisively in the first round, says Władysław, a taxi driver from Przemyśl. I don't think so. People here have right-wing views, and it shows all the choices in the last 20 years. Therefore, there is no chance that abruptly a good consequence was made here by Trzaskowski, who by almost everyone in Podkarpacie is considered simply a leftist and... a communist. In the end, I think Nawrocki will win. Posters may have fewer, but that's most likely due to the fact that his staff know that in our region the candidate doesn't gotta effort so hard, and he's going to win anyway," says the driver.
Mr. Władysław wonders a long time erstwhile we ask him: who he intends to vote for. Eventually, he says that in the first circular it will be Mentzen.
“ The Law and Justice has done quite a few good in 8 years of his rule. He gave and helped quite a few people, especially financially. But they besides did quite a few bad things. I peculiarly do not like that they have made Ukraine's "bottle" out of our country. War, help, but the Law and Justice were so into Zelensk's ass that it was disgusting. That's why it's hard for me to vote for them, though if Nawrocki enters the second round, not Mentzen, I will vote with a clear conscience as a PiS candidate. In the second round, you will gotta do everything you can not let Trzaskowski win. I have grandchildren at school age. I do not want them to learn left-wing propaganda, and this 1 will be promoted in Poland as “Bonżur” will become president and Tuska will have all the centres of power in hand.
Podkarpacie prepares for Tusk a “red card”
The inhabitants of Podkarpacie, who declare that they will vote for the right, are mostly divided into those who will do so “for someone” or “against someone”. The first group is mainly PiS supporters admitting explicitly that this organization and their candidate will receive a vote of thanks for 800 plus, 13th and 14th retirement, lowering retirement age and another social programs.
The second group are people who, in Jarosław Kaczyński's party, see quite a few bad things, but by deciding to vote in the presidential election, they will choose a "minor evil". For them, the worst thing that could happen to Poland is... Donald Tusk. Many inhabitants of Podkarpata will vote on May 18, not actually to support anyone, but to give a "red card" to the Prime Minister. This means for them a vote for anyone another than Rafał Trzaskowski and Szymon Hołownia or Magdalena Biejat, who (which frequently falls in talks) are besides considered in this state as "people of Tuska" due to the fact that they are with the leader of the PO in 1 government coalition.
Tomasz Mateusiak / OnetMedyka is simply a Podkarpackie town on the very Polish-Ukrainian border Most of the residents here declare voting for the right.
The anti-Ukrainian moods are palpable. Braun's good score in Podkarpacie won't surprise anyone
— I will not be amazed at all if in the first circular of elections, in many surrounding municipalities, Rafał Trzaskowski is only the fourth. He will take this position after Navrock, Mentzen and Braun “Sofia says she lives in Sanoka. “PiS voters are the strongest in our country, but those who support Braun and Mentzen truly stopped hiding, and they will powerfully say who they support. specified conversations are heard during vicinity talks, in the store or in front of the church. People besides talk to each another in families. On Podkarpacie at the Easter table or grill during May, there was small dispute over whether "Tusk or Kaczyński is better". Many of us have no uncertainty about that. Here people argue whether the greater patriot is Braun or Nawrock or Mentzen,” he adds.
The fact that many specified discussions win... Braun found out for myself erstwhile last Thursday (8 May) during a visit to 1 of the fastfood restaurants in Przemyśl. In parallel to me, there was a advanced school journey from a tiny town in Podkarpackie. Teenagers came on a journey to the cinema due to the fact that at the same time their older colleagues were writing their seniors.
— If you could vote, who would you vote for? I ask a group of 4 boys and 3 girls.
— To Braun, they respond almost unanimously and add that their parents will besides vote for him.
Young people explain to me that they come from a town close Przemyśl, very close to the border with Ukraine.
“ Ukrainians come to us with fancy cars and act like nobles. quite a few people get 800 plus benefits here and they get back together. They mock Poles. Only Braun tells the fact about it and wants to order with this “subordination” of Poland towards Ukraine “ adds a teenager and points his finger at the restaurant parking lot.
A fresh Tesla, Mercedes and Audi were parked next to each other. All on Ukrainian plates. A full of about 10 young men of draft age arrived in the Sheik. They talked to each another in Ukrainian.
Tomasz Mateusiak/Onet / OnetAutosan mill in Sanoku. In this town people will vote for Karol Nawrocki due to the fact that they remember that during the regulation of Writing the plant was bought by the government and saved by bankruptcy
Similar voices are not only fans of “young and angry”. In Podkarpacie it is possible to feel that sympathy for Ukrainians is getting lower. We heard the most of specified voices right at the border, even in the towns of Zadąbrowa, Eagles, Crane.
— I'm not voting for Trzaskowski due to the fact that he's a lefty. I will not let my children grow up in Poland without value. In addition, this is Brussels’s ‘colt’, says 40-year-old Helena. — However, he will not vote for the Law and Justice either, due to the fact that these are the "Kywów colts". That's why my voice has Braun.. He speaks harshly, but only the truth. Among another things, Volyn. We people here know what Volyn truly means. My grandma survived. She said that neither Germany nor the Russians were beasts like the Ukrainians of Bandera. Now this Bandera is celebrated in Ukraine, and our politicians are jumping in anyway. It's a disgrace!
***
However, there are exceptions. erstwhile we visited Medyka, a village already on the Polish-Ukrainian border, many voices of words against Ukrainians were not heard.
“Ukrainians are people like us. They want to survive, so they're up to it. There were times in Poland erstwhile it was done. small did I walk across the border there and back as an ant to trade any inexpensive cigarettes and vodka, says Stanisław, a village resident. — For me, people like Braun are haunted madmen and want to make a fresh Polish-Ukrainian conflict “ He adds.
I ask a man if he intends to vote for Trzaskowski. For a minute I think I'm talking to the first resident of a Podkarpackie village who has specified views.
- Absolutely not. Never — almost Stanislaus shouts at him and explains that erstwhile Donald Tusk previously ruled, there was so much poorness in the region that he had to go to England to gain a household there. “Now I’m back, I work in manufacture and I make good money. In addition, my wife and I have over 2 children from the state PLN 1 000 and my parent lives with us, who has a “cool” due to the fact that the pension raised by PiS. That's why I'm voting for Nawrocki. The Law and Justice gave people money.He allowed a decent life. Now I'm afraid Tusk will take it all. I'm certain he will erstwhile he has his president. That's why Trzaskowski can't win. If that happens, I will gotta return to England or reactivate my career as a “border ant,” he adds.
