It is possible that at 8:00 PM, a presidential debate featuring Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki will be broadcast on TVN, Polsat, and TVP. TV Republika has also announced its own debate for 6:50 PM.

At 9:30 PM, Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign team has announced a rally in Końskie, scheduled by the organizers to take place immediately after the debate concludes.

At 10:00 AM in the Sejm, a press conference will be held with members of the parliamentary investigative committee on Pegasus, including Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska, Marcin Bosacki, and Witold Zembaczyński.

The Marshal of the Sejm and presidential candidate, Szymon Hołownia, will visit the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. At 1:30 PM, he will hold a press briefing in Wałbrzych, and at 4:00 PM, also in Wałbrzych, a meeting with residents will take place. At the end of the day, Hołownia will meet with residents of Świdnica at 6:30 PM.

At 9:30 AM, the parliamentary committee on constitutional responsibility will convene in a closed session to continue hearings regarding the motion to bring the head of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) before the State Tribunal. At 10:30 AM, the Pegasus investigative committee will question prosecutor Michał Kierski, and at 2:30 PM, in a closed session, former deputy head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau, Daniel Karpeta, will be questioned.

– I am convinced that a debate between the two candidates will take place […] I think this debate, meaning Trzaskowski-Nawrocki, will happen – said Cezary Tomczyk in "Jeden na Jeden" on TVN24, when asked what would happen at 8 PM in Końskie.

– I am convinced that Karol Nawrocki will be at the debate, I would probably put 99% of chances on that today […] I don't know if I'm the best reviewer of PiS's strategy, because today and for the last two days, it looks like Nawrocki is a coward. However, I am convinced that in the end he will appear at this debate, and before that, he will probably be at a rally organized for him by Telewizja Republika – he continued.

– I believe there is absolutely no favorite in this debate. I believe that because of what Trzaskowski did, meaning he said equal chances, fairness […] I believe it’s like this: we’re starting from scratch, meaning the same questions are directed at the same candidates, each candidate has the same amount of time, there are equal chances, equal rules, and therefore we’re also starting this from zero – said Cezary Tomczyk on TVN24.

– Why does Sławomir Mentzen assume there won't be a debate with him? We will certainly all meet on May 12th for a joint debate – said Cezary Tomczyk on TVN24.

– Everything is ahead of us. We will see what the campaign brings. The gentlemen will certainly meet on May 12th – he continued, when asked about a one-on-one debate between Trzaskowski and Mentzen.

– Today, I would rather suggest that Sławomir Mentzen agree to a debate with Szymon Hołownia. I would like to see such a debate, and Szymon Hołownia has been doing a wonderful job lately […] I believe that Sławomir Mentzen, if he is not lacking in courage, should agree to a debate with Szymon Hołownia, because the more debates there are, the greater the choice for citizens – he continued.

– American troops are staying in Poland, they will remain in Poland, the Americans have their interests here, including, for example, the permanent American base in Redzikowo – said Cezary Tomczyk on TVN24.

– Americans will certainly stay in Europe. Whether they will want to change their approach depends on the commander-in-chief of the American army's armed forces, that is, Donald Trump. […] Let's remember […] that on the one hand, we should build relations with America, but on the other hand, we should do everything to strengthen Europe's defense potential – he continued.

– I hope [that the campaign teams of Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki will agree on the debate in Końskie]. Because I believe that Poles deserve a debate, but an honest debate – said Patryk Jaki in an interview with Marcin Fijołek on Polsat News's "Graffiti".

– What Trzaskowski's team is currently proposing, meaning a debate on terms they will set with TVN and the illegal TVP, is as good as Nawrocki going directly to the Civic Platform headquarters. Let them seat the people there, one will know the questions, the other won't, some will shout, others won't. This is not normal – he stated.

– Our only condition is that all stations be allowed, especially the station that Poles are currently choosing, the one with the highest viewership – said Patryk Jaki on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

– But if TV Republika and wPolsce24 are not allowed to this debate, will Karol Nawrocki not come? – asked Marcin Fijołek.

– I don't know the answer to that question yet, because a lot will depend on the details. […] But we will certainly fight to the end to ensure that this debate is on equal terms, meaning there will be different television channels, different hosts, so that all viewers are respected – replied the PiS MEP.

– Or perhaps, even if the rules of the game don't suit you, […] maybe Karol Nawrocki should come and simply say it to the cameras that will be there, under the conditions that will take place? – the host pressed.

– We will be discussing this all day today… – Jaki said.

– So, you are in favour of such a strategy? – asked the journalist, to which the PiS politician replied: – I have my own view on this matter, but I won't disclose it. Because I have my specific character… I'll put it this way: I don't know what the candidates' decision will be today, so we'll see.

– Isn't it a bit like what Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz says, […] that [the debate in Końskie] is Rafał Trzaskowski extending a hand to Karol Nawrocki? Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, a Confederation MEP, even writes directly that this is clear, unofficial cooperation between the PO and PiS campaign teams to set up the first round, according to your dream scenario – Marcin Fijołek asked in Polsat News's "Graffiti".

Patryk Jaki laughed.

– You can accuse us of anything, but the idea that we are currently coordinating anything with Donald Tusk or Trzaskowski, I think that's science fiction, considering all the circumstances happening in Poland – replied the PiS MEP.

– This freedom is constantly under threat. […] If Donald Tusk wants to shut down television stations today, if his judges want to shut down television stations, what else is this but a demand for Poland to be free? – said Patryk Jaki on Polsat News' "Graffiti".

– The administrative court is the same administrative court that I fought against, which ruled that apartments in Warsaw should be given to 140-year-old individuals. It's precisely the same administrative court. With a smile, a woman from Iustitia took away the licenses from television stations that Poles watch, that they choose – he continued.

– Poland must be prepared for a doubling of war spending, from 5% of GDP to 10% of GDP. In any [scenario], we must be ready for such a situation at any moment. We need fiscal space for such an increase in spending, but fiscal space not understood as the abolition of limits, because what has happened in the US best shows that overly dangerous fiscal policy, i.e., for example, too high a deficit, can cause such a significant increase in debt interest rates that we will not be able to service our debt – stated Ryszard Petru on PR3.

– After what happened yesterday, when a PO candidate manually selected his discussion partner, also on public television, I have the impression that we are far from those standards – stated Szymon Hołownia on Radio Zet.

– No [TVP does not meet the highest standards], and I am waiting for the Ministry of Culture to finally propose a bill on what public media in Poland should look like, because this is starting to look dangerous to me, it is starting to look very similar to times that have already passed – he added.

– I am not afraid of debates; I have said from the very beginning that we need to talk, that we need to show people their choices. Mentzen has been chickening out of a debate with me for quite some time now. I know why he's chickening out; he's chickening out because his MPs are unofficially saying: 'But he'll crush Sławek, we can't let that happen' – Szymon Hołownia said on Radio Zet.

– Mentzen is a coward, and no manipulation will change that. Mentzen is a coward, and we cannot have a coward as president. He is a TikTok hero, but we are not choosing the TikToker of the Year; we are choosing the Commander-in-Chief and the President of the Republic – he added.

– We will see what happens with the Third Way project after the elections. I am convinced that there is a demand for a centrist group. I say this from my own extensive experience. Until now, it was the Third Way, of course, with the PSL, and in many aspects, particularly on worldviews, we have completely different [views] – stated Ryszard Petru on PR3.

– The entire mechanism of this debate shows, the whole circus that's in it, because it's a circus, not democracy, that's what we'll have if we choose one of them. If we choose one of them, we'll have this kind of foreplay, this kind of dance that we've had for two days. If they can't agree on a location, it's worse than Kargul and Pawlak – said Szymon Hołownia on Radio Zet.

– They've been doing this for 20 years, they've needed each other for 20 years, they feed off each other. I even see it in the Sejm; PiS dreams of PO, and PO dreams of PiS, because it's a significant part of their narrative, one of the most important – he continued.

– We need a president here who will understand that today the key is not to review Donald Trump, but to have such relations in Europe that we can jointly exert pressure on France and Germany. Because it is France and Germany, and to some extent Belgium, that decide today that Russian frozen assets, Russian foreign exchange reserves lying in Belgium, are not being used by Zelensky for the purchase of weapons – stated Szymon Hołownia on Radio Zet.

– I know how to build alliances, and Poland needs a president who will not be a participant in alliances, but their architect. I know nothing about their [Trzaskowski and Nawrocki's] achievements in this area, because in the last year and a half I have shown that I know how to build these alliances – he continued.

– If Nawrocki wins, everything is possible, including early elections. It's difficult for me to imagine that – stated Ryszard Petru on PR3.

– He is weak. Nawrocki is simply a weak candidate. He is unnatural, he is antipathetic in his own way, terribly radical in his views. I believe that these issues concerning his contacts with the Tri-City criminal world are unexplained. He probably hasn't told his PiS colleagues everything regarding his past – stated Ryszard Petru in PR3.

– The public should know as many details as possible about the purchase of Pegasus. That is why I decided to present the declassified documents concerning this matter, which I also handed over to the Parliamentary Investigative Committee yesterday. I thank the CBA for their consent to declassify the documents – Adam Bodnar wrote on social media.

Opinia publiczna powinna poznać możliwie najwięcej szczegółów dotyczących zakupu Pegasusa. Dlatego zdecydowałem się, by zaprezentować odtajnione dokumenty dotyczące tej sprawy, które wczoraj przekazałem także Sejmowej Komisji Śledczej.
Dziękuję @CBAgovPL za zgodę na odtajnienie…

— Adam Bodnar (@Adbodnar) April 11, 2025

– The committee is striving to have the largest possible portion of the documentation declassified. This time, we will present to you documents concerning the purchase. […] Documents with a confidentiality clause, declassified today, are documents that were sent to Minister Ziobro, who received them from the head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA), Ernest Bejda, in which he precisely requests the disbursement of the largest sum in the history of the Justice Fund, which was transferred in one go to the CBA's account – said Magdalena Sroka at the press conference of the parliamentary committee investigating the Pegasus spyware.

– As we know, the transfer of money from the Justice Fund was carried out in violation of the Act on the CBA. Such financing cannot be made from these funds. And later, this historical amount of PLN 25 million is the sum for which the contract was signed. […] A contract, precisely two and a half pages long, which was signed by Michał Woś – the committee chair continued.

– Zbigniew Ziobro was fully aware that funds from the Justice Fund would be used to purchase surveillance equipment for special services in Poland – she indicated.

– In the first letter, in which Ernest Bajda requests Minister Ziobro to transfer the sum of PLN 25 million, it is very clearly stated: “the anticipated cost of project implementation, including equipment delivery, its installation, configuration, training for operators, technical assistance immediately after system launch, as well as warranty and technical support covering one year, will amount to PLN 40 million.” These are the funds that flowed to enable the Pegasus system to be used in Poland – she conveyed.

“Was Pegasus Meant to Be Sauron’s Eye, and Zbigniew Ziobro – Gollum?” Zembaczyński on “The Fellowship of the Ring”
– To complete the picture, one must also mention a certain operation with a certain codename, namely the services' operation titled “The Fellowship of the Ring.” They had fun. It's two volumes. The story of “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the story of how negotiations for the purchase of Pegasus took place, how the purchase of Pegasus was made – said Witold Zembaczyński.

– If we were to use the services' terminology […], the question must be asked: was Pegasus meant to be their Sauron’s Eye, and Zbigniew Ziobro – Gollum? Were the CBA, their officers, meant to be an army of orcs on political errands armed with cyber-weapons, fighting against good? – the committee member asked.

– From today onwards, all papers concerning the Pegasus purchase are on the table. Everything is public. The time for foolish excuses is over, especially from those whose signatures we see here: Michał Woś, Ernest Bejda, and Zbigniew Ziobro. Gentlemen will be feeling the heat – he stated.

= Attention! I am denying the information appearing in the media. The presidential debate in the format presented by TVP, TVN, and Polsat has not been accepted by us. The format of this debate excludes millions of Poles. We want a debate with 5 televisions! We are not excluding anyone! We want a fair play debate! – Paweł Szefernaker wrote on social media.

Uwaga! Dementuję pojawiające się w mediach informacje. Debata prezydencka w formule przedstawionej przez TVP, TVN i Polsat nie została przez nas zaakceptowana. Formuła tej debaty wyklucza miliony Polaków. Chcemy debaty 5 telewizji! Nikogo nie wykluczamy! Chcemy debaty fair play!

— Paweł Szefernaker ?? (@szefernaker) April 11, 2025

"A great day is coming soon. [...] On April 26th, we will celebrate the millennium of the Polish crown. The celebrations will truly be fit for royalty. You'll see for yourselves, a lot will happen. There will be the largest drone show Poland has ever seen, there will be a concert by stars. I tell you, Chrobry himself wouldn't be ashamed of such celebrations," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a recording published on X.

See you on Saturday, April 26th in Warsaw. Because we have a thousand reasons to be proud! ? pic.twitter.com/eSWKwYIpdI

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 11, 2025

– The choice between Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki is a choice between the development of Poland, between the CPK in its full version, and such a stunted version, what remains after that development, that Rafał Trzaskowski wants to propose to us – stated Marcin Horała at a press conference.

– Karol Nawrocki, even before he was a presidential candidate, before he was perhaps so widely known, simply collected signatures for this project as a regular volunteer. This shows who has sincere intentions for Poland's development. Rafał Trzaskowski's slogan is 'All of Poland Forward', yet dozens of large and medium-sized Polish cities have been cut from his version of CPK – said Marcin Horała at a press conference.

– As I mentioned, we are setting off across Poland, we will visit over 40 cities that are losing out under Trzaskowski's version of CPK, and which will gain if CPK is restored in its full version thanks to Karol Nawrocki – said Marcin Horała at a press conference.

– I hope that Rafał Trzaskowski will not back down, as he has rejected invitations to all debates so far, except for the one he intended to orchestrate solely with friendly media. Today at 18:50 in the Końskie Market Square, Karol Nawrocki is waiting for Rafał Trzaskowski. We hope he will not back down – stated Marcin Horała at a press conference.

– We are filing a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office under Article 231 against Adam Bodnar. During the election campaign, he declassified UNARCHIVED documents, including procedures concerning the functioning of special services. Mr. Bodnar, you will be held accountable for this! – wrote Mariusz Błaszczak on social media.

Składamy zawiadomienie do prokuratury z art. 231. na Adama Bodnara – w kampanii wyborczej odtajnił NIEZARCHIWIZOWANE dokumenty, w tym procedury dotyczące funkcjonowania slużb specjalnych.
Panie Bodnar, odpowie Pan za to! https://t.co/PaMI9BUnHQ

— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) April 11, 2025

– The situation has changed. I will not allow half of Poland to be excluded from the elections. The outcome should be decided by the people, not by candidates from TV on demand. Public television has an obligation to defend the principles of free and fair elections. I am going to Końskie today to participate in a debate — Szymon Hołownia wrote on platform X.

Sytuacja się zmieniła. Nie pozwolę wykluczyć połowy Polski z wyborów. O ich wyniku mają rozstrzygać ludzie, nie kandydaci z TV na telefon. Telewizja publiczna ma obowiązek bronić zasad wolnych i uczciwych wyborów. Jadę dziś do Końskich, by wystąpić w debacie.

— Szymon Hołownia (@szymon_holownia) April 11, 2025

– For 20-odd years, a holy dispute between one and the other […]. None of this yields anything, it serves no purpose, and this is exactly how the scenario of the debates planned for today in Końskie looks. However, I've decided I can no longer watch this calmly. I will be in Końskie today to participate in both debates planned there – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

– I cannot imagine a situation where if a registered presidential candidate appears on the scene […] who was given the mandate for this fight [for the presidency] by hundreds of thousands of people […] who is also the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, that he will not be admitted to these debates – he continued.

– I will be in Końskie today, I intend to participate in these two debates, and if I am not admitted to them, I will expose the cowardice of those who are organizing these debates […]. Because they agreed on a setup, I will ruin that setup for them. I will come there and let them try not to let me in, let them try to say that they are afraid of a discussion about what is truly important today – he further stated.

– I am intoxicated by quotes, for example from Rafał Trzaskowski, who in 2020 appealed to Polish Television to include all candidates, stating that only all candidates standing together and debating constitutes media pluralism, and that this is how it should look – said Szymon Hołownia at a press conference.

– 5 years have passed, but I hope, Rafał, that your values have remained the same as they were in '20, and I hope that it doesn't occur to anyone to treat public television, public media, as their private property – he continued.

"Many people are urging me to change my plans and go to Końskie today. I will not do that. I am currently in Ustrzyki Dolne, very far from Końskie" – Sławomir Mentzen wrote on X.

"Today I have meetings with voters in Ustrzyki Dolne, Lesko, Brzozów, and Krosno. I will not cancel them and let down the people waiting for me there to go to Końskie and try to enter a debate to which I am not invited. I will not participate in this circus" – the Confederation candidate continued.

"Both Nawrocki and Trzaskowski do not want any normal debate. One will stand alone in the hall, the other in the Market Square in Końskie. Both will claim that the other is a coward. Perhaps they will even let Hołownia in to see each other, hoping to promote him a bit this way to harm me" – Mentzen stated.

"Trzaskowski knows that I am a much bigger threat to him in the second round. Nawrocki is afraid whether he will even make it to the second round. They have a common interest in me not reaching the second round. This would irreversibly destroy the system that both of these large parties have been building in Poland for 20 years" – he wrote.

"I am going to a debate at Republika on Monday. For a normal debate, because I want to talk about Poland. But I want to talk under normal conditions, at a pre-arranged time, without begging at the last minute to participate in a debate to which one is not invited" – he added.

Wiele osób namawia mnie, żebym zmienił plany i jechał dziś do Końskich. Nie zrobię tego. Jestem właśnie w Ustrzykach Dolnych, bardzo daleko od Końskich.

Mam dziś spotkania w wyborcami w Ustrzykach Dolnych, Lesku, Brzozowie i Krośnie. Nie będę ich odwoływał i zawodził czekających…

— Sławomir Mentzen (@SlawomirMentzen) April 11, 2025

– They say there's a FIRE in Trzaskowski's headquarters (TVP and TVN). Anyone know anything?? – wrote PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek on social media.

Mówią, że w sztabach Trzaskowskiego (TVP i TVN)
POŻAR ??? Ktoś, coś ????

— Rafał Bochenek (@RafalBochenek) April 11, 2025

– Public television has a "dogged duty" to organize a debate for all candidates. It is a station funded by all citizens and must operate within the bounds of the law that governs it, which means organizing a debate for all first-round candidates – wrote Piotr Zgorzelski on social media.

Telewizja publiczna ma "psi obowiązek" zorganizować debatę dla wszystkich kandydatów. Jest to stacja, na którą składają się wszyscy obywatele i musi działać w granicach prawa jakie je obowiązuje, czyli organizacja debaty dla wszystkich kandydatów z pierwszej tury.

— Piotr Zgorzelski (@PZgorzelskiP) April 11, 2025

– I think we are all looking with distaste at this clown show that has been unfolding in recent hours. I am running for the office of President of the Republic of Poland, not a circus clown. What some candidates are doing today, especially those more desperate from the ruling coalition, who are losing support and desperately wondering how to reverse this trend, is in my opinion simply compromising for the Polish state – stated Adrian Zandberg at a press briefing.

– It is clear that PO and PiS are hysterically trying to maintain a duopoly in Poland, a state in which they convince us that politics is about watching how Tusk attacked Kaczyński on Twitter and how Kaczyński responded, threatening to imprison him someday. This is not real politics; real politics are decisions that will determine whether we will have public healthcare – he continued.

– No, I participate in all debates that are organized in accordance with the law that is in force in Poland. If the information reported by the media today is true, that is, information that this setup is jointly financed by Rafał Trzaskowski's election campaign staff and TVP in liquidation, it means a brazen violation of the law on financing election campaigns. If this is true, then of course my election committee will file a report on suspicion of committing a crime by TVP in liquidation and Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign staff in this matter – stated Adrian Zandberg at a press briefing.

– An absurd response from TVP. If not Public Television, then who is organizing this debate? Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign? – wrote Szymon Hołownia on the X platform, publishing a photo of the response his campaign manager received from TVP.

In the letter signed by the head of TVP, we read, among other things: – The event […] does not constitute a debate as described in Article 120 § 1 of the Electoral Code. Telewizja Polska is neither its initiator nor host, nor does it have any influence on the number of its participants. At the same time, it is worth emphasizing that a television broadcast of a debate between two candidates is not only legally permissible but actually necessary and in line with the mission of a public broadcaster.

Kuriozalna odpowiedź TVP. Jeśli nie Telewizja Publiczna, to kto jest organizatorem tej debaty? Sztab @trzaskowski_? pic.twitter.com/iu4XyZJ6qd

— Szymon Hołownia (@szymon_holownia) April 11, 2025

– TVP's lie! We are not organizing any debate in Końskie! – Paweł Szefernaker wrote on social media.

Kłamstwo TVP! Nie jesteśmy organizatorami żadnej debaty w Końskich! https://t.co/dchghABdie

— Paweł Szefernaker ?? (@szefernaker) April 11, 2025

– Referring to the words of Mr. Krzysztof Obratański, the mayor of Końskie, we inform that Polish Television is not renting the sports hall in Końskie. Polish Television is not financing today's debate in Końskie. Polish Television is not the organizer of today's event – reads a statement from TVP published on the X portal.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM POLISH TELEVISION

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

referring to the words of Mr. Krzysztof Obratański, the mayor of Końskie, we inform that Polish Television is not renting the sports hall in Końskie.

Polish Television is not financing today's debate in Końskie.…

— tvp.info ?? (@tvp_info) April 11, 2025

– For informational purposes. I asked my campaign team today to contact Rafał Trzaskowski's team to agree on the rules for participating in the debate. Despite many attempts by my campaign manager (the last one after 2:00 PM), we are still waiting for any response – Szymon Hołownia wrote on the X portal.

Informacyjnie. Prosiłem dziś sztab o kontakt z zespołem Rafała Trzaskowskiego w celu uzgodnienia zasad udziału w debacie. Mimo wielu prób szefa mojego sztabu (ostatnia po 14:00) wciąż czekamy na jakąkolwiek odpowiedź.

— Szymon Hołownia (@szymon_holownia) April 11, 2025

– A serious candidate should take his voters seriously, and I am taking you seriously. That’s why I am here with you today, in the place I promised you earlier, and not on the way to Końskie. I do not intend to participate in this circus that TVP is organizing there with our money. I do not intend to legitimize this system that fights us so much – said Sławomir Mentzen in Ustrzyki Dolne.

– I proposed a debate to Trzaskowski on his terms, on his television, TVN, and he refused. I proposed a debate to Nawrocki on his terms, on his television – he also refused. He said he doesn't understand why he should debate me. However, he understands why he will debate Hołownia today. He understands why I was not invited to this debate. Now I am being criticized for not going to a debate to which I was not invited – said Sławomir Mentzen in Ustrzyki Dolne.

As the Confederation candidate stated: – They both know perfectly well – both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki – that I am the greatest threat to them. Trzaskowski perfectly understands that I have the best chance of defeating him in the second round. And Nawrocki perfectly understands that I am the only one who can eliminate him from the second round.

– That is why they have a common interest. That is why they are now putting on this circus, this spectacle in Końskie: in order to fight the only candidate who threatens their system – he stated.

– I’ve had enough of a country where nothing works, where nothing can be normal. Where not even a debate can be organized normally: in advance, with rules, on a date that suits all candidates – said Sławomir Mentzen in Ustrzyki Dolne.

– These people can’t even organize a simple debate, so how are they supposed to govern the country? How are they going to solve the most important problems for us, if even a simple debate doesn't work out for them and can't be conducted normally? – he asked.

– A dozen or so days ago, Karol Nawrocki proposed a debate to me. I said “yes”. Today, I’m learning that a great many other candidates are heading to Końskie – said Rafał Trzaskowski in a recording published on the X platform.

– I think that out of respect for them, and above all, out of respect for the voters, this debate needs to be expanded. I will be waiting at 8:00 PM in Końskie – declared the KO candidate.

– I hope that this debate will be about Poland and that it will be serious and respectful of everyone who takes part in it. See you in Końskie – he concluded.

Z szacunku dla wszystkich kandydatów, kandydatek i ich wyborców. Dziś o 20:00, w Końskich. Do zobaczenia! pic.twitter.com/LhDEKxmNYd

— Rafał Trzaskowski (@trzaskowski_) April 11, 2025

Four presidential candidates appeared at a debate organized by Telewizja Republika – and co-hosted by wPolsce24 and TV Trwam: Karol Nawrocki, Szymon Hołownia, Krzysztof Stanowski, and Marek Jakubiak.

– I am shocked that Telewizja Republika, which is described as the bad one, the hateful one, that sows slander and hatred, is fulfilling its public mission better today than public television. I, to be honest, did not come here for the debate, because the real debate [...] will take place on Monday. I came to see if it is really happening, that public television is broadcasting, producing a signal for one of the election committees and does not admit other candidates – said Krzysztof Stanowski during a debate on TV Republika.

– This whole circus, today's circus of debates, brought to us by the main organizer, Rafał Trzaskowski, is proof that Poland today is not a democracy, but a snarling democracy. A snarling democracy, and we are in the prelude to what will happen on May 18th, because state television only invites those who serve state television, and Rafał Trzaskowski is only capable of talking to three television stations, not 5 television stations – said Karol Nawrocki during the TV Republika debate.

– This is something that breaks Polish law on the one hand, and on the other hand, it proves once again that we cannot allow the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to be a coward. Of course, I am against the migration pact, against the construction of integration centers for illegal migrants, and against paying financial resources to illegal migrants – he continued.

During the first round of questions, Joanna Senyszyn entered the stage and joined the TV Republika debate, taking her place at the podium.

– As I understand it, this is the moment when one can start telling complete nonsense, with no basis in facts or in what is possible or impossible. One can also say something different in a few days in another debate, so today I will present one version, and in a few days I will contradict myself, to give it that presidential charm. First and foremost, I will reduce electricity prices by 60%, which will obviously beat my opponents; no one has made such an ambitious proposal yet. To reduce electricity prices by 60%, one must build nuclear power plants. I will build 6 of them within the next 6 months – stated Krzysztof Stanowski during the TV Republika debate.

– I am against the implementation of the migration pact's findings, against being assigned quotas of people who would be relocated to Poland, and for a simple reason. We accepted 2 million refugees from Ukraine before the war broke out, and every community has its capacity when it comes to accepting people arriving from elsewhere – stated Szymon Hołownia during a TV Republika debate.

– However, it must also be clearly stated, no inciting one group of people against another using migration arguments, no hypocrisy, first you supported PiS foreigner integration centers, and now you are protesting against them, where is the consistency in your actions – he added.

– I am so glad that there has been this conversion to nuclear power for everyone. For 11 years, first under PO governments, and then PiS, nothing happened with the Polish nuclear project, and suddenly everyone wants to do nuclear. And that’s very good, because today we need a Polish model of energy transformation, not a German one, not a French one – stated Szymon Hołownia during a TV Republika debate.

– Indeed, the situation in Poland is dire. I experience this firsthand when meeting with residents in all of Poland's counties. It is expensive, more expensive, and constantly getting more expensive. Food prices continue to rise, and Donald Tusk's government wants to give Poles spectacles, not bread. This is no way to govern – stated Karol Nawrocki during a TV Republika debate.

– Poland today needs a decisive and strong path to nuclear energy. I will support all efforts that lead to Poland having its own nuclear power plants. I am deeply disappointed that projects such as the nuclear power plant in Konin, which was meant to create 10,000 jobs, are being liquidated by Donald Tusk's government – said Karol Nawrocki in a TV Republika debate.

– Until we achieve strong Polish nuclear energy, which is the most stable and flexible source of energy, we should mine, extract, and develop Polish coal to advance the Republic of Poland. We have excellent scientists in Polish academies who can ensure that Polish mines are less emissive; we should utilize this know-how – he continued.

– Unfortunately, renewable energy sources cannot fulfill Poland's energy balance and mix today; we must be aware of this. In my opinion, windmills and renewable energy sources can only be established where they are socially acceptable. You cannot erect windmills near people's farms if they don't want them, or in places of national memory – he went on to say.

– We need to introduce 0% VAT on food products. This is in my project, I have already submitted it to the Polish Sejm, the Marshal unfortunately did not address my proposal, but he will have to, once I become president – stated Karol Nawrocki during a TV Republika debate.

– Mr. Karol, Mr. Tadeusz – and you want to be president, not knowing how the Sejm works? Your bill has been in the parliamentary committee for a long time, because as the Marshal of the Sejm, I directed it for reading, not to any freezer. So please do not lie – stated Szymon Hołownia during the TV Republika debate.

– These are Belarusian standards. Trzaskowski invited candidates to a debate organized by TVP for 8:00 PM, but the invitation was sent at 6:20 PM. And these are the people who shout the loudest about democracy and the rule of law. In this way, they show where their fair elections and voters stand – wrote Sławomir Mentzen on social media.

To są standardy białoruskie. Trzaskowski zaprosił kandydatów na debatę organizowaną przez TVP na godzinę 20:00 o 18:20.

I robią to ludzie, którzy najwięcej krzyczą o demokracji i praworządności.

Pokazują w ten sposób, gdzie mają uczciwe wybory i wyborców.

— Sławomir Mentzen (@SlawomirMentzen) April 11, 2025

– Dear ladies and gentlemen, I respect you too much, I respect your intellect, I respect the intellect of the viewers, to deceive you, so I will tell you what I will actually do to make you richer than you are. Now, keeping in mind everything a president can do, what are their real competencies. Well, I will do nothing, because none of the candidates will actually do anything – stated Krzysztof Stanowski during the TV Republika debate.

– The most important alliance for the Polish state, guaranteeing our security, [...] is the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as bilateral relations with the United States. We in Poland have experience with what Lech Wałęsa wanted to create and attempts to build a NATO-bis, which would not have guaranteed us security after the 1990s. Therefore, taking care of the North Atlantic Alliance, taking care of relations with the United States is paramount for Poland – said Karol Nawrocki in a TV Republika debate.

– These decisions that aim to create a NATO-bis, a NATO-bis in the form of a European army, and to hand over either strategies or the management of the Polish army to the European Union, are a great threat to Poland, and I will stand in all European Union forums to fight these tendencies – he continued.

– I have good news for Mr. Karol Nawrocki, he will save on trips to those Brussels salons, because there are no such plans [to create NATO-bis]. NATO is an alliance we are part of, and there is no alternative to NATO. However, is it necessary to create defense capabilities among European Union countries? Yes. And do you know why? Because today the European Union and its countries spend 70% of their defense expenditures outside their own economies – said Szymon Hołownia during a debate on TV Republika.

– We need to train together, produce together, this will be good for Polish security. Control over the Polish army will always remain in Polish hands. But if PiS and Confederation vote against the East Shield becoming a European project, financed by Europe, together with the Baltic Defence Line, then it is sabotage – he continued.

Circus, buffoonery, embarrassment. Trzaskowski invites to his staged event 90 minutes before it starts. And he calls the rally of his electoral committee a "debate". I will not participate in this farce. Let them entertain themselves. See you in Kielce! – wrote Adrian Zandberg on X.

Cyrk, błazenada, żenada. Trzaskowski zaprasza na swoją ustawkę na 90 minut przed eventem. I nazywa wiec swojego komitetu wyborczego "debatą".

Nie wezmę udziału w tej farsie. Niech bawią się aami. Do zobaczenia w Kielcach! pic.twitter.com/rsV7jqnaoM

— Adrian Zandberg (@ZandbergRAZEM) April 11, 2025

– There will be no war. Choose a president who doesn't scare you with war, but says: there will be no war. Do you know why there won't be? Because we will finally have an army with deterrent capability, not one with failures who signed contracts for Caracals – stated Szymon Hołownia during the TV Republika debate.

– The Constitutional Tribunal, the Supreme Court, and the independence of the judiciary were destroyed in Poland by Ziobro, who is now evading testimony before the investigation committee, and Andrzej Duda. Repairing this situation will take a long time. But I also have a question for our coalition partners: when will we finally see the Supreme Court bill in the Sejm? The judge status bill? The prosecution bill? – stated Szymon Hołownia during a TV Republika debate.

– Master Szymon Hołownia has forgotten that "if you want peace, prepare for war," and the failures are those who caused the decrease in dynamics and recruitment to the Polish Army during Donald Tusk's government, a threefold drop in recruitment to the Polish Army and the Territorial Defence Force. These are failures, because we need at least a 300,000-strong Polish army and a strong alliance with the United States and Poland's place in the North Atlantic Alliance – stated Karol Nawrocki during a TV Republika debate.

– I hope that the situation in public media, which today leaves much to be desired, will be quickly resolved with the help of the Public Media Act – stated Szymon Hołownia during a TV Republika debate.

Wy jesteście poważni? O 18:20 zaprasza Pan na debatę o 20? Mam się tam teleportować?

— Sławomir Mentzen (@SlawomirMentzen) April 11, 2025

– Poland is indeed in deep chaos, Article 7 of the Polish Constitution on the rule of law is regularly violated. The best proof of what is happening today is not only this debate but also the attack on the home of free speech, on wPolsce television, and the attempt to revoke its license – said Karol Nawrocki in a TV Republika debate.

– It has never been this bad. This is no longer a creeping […] grinding democracy, but it is accelerating, and its culmination is to be the installation of Rafał Trzaskowski in the Presidential Palace by Donald Tusk – he continued.

– Today we live in a Poland of Donald Tusk's terror and grinding democracy. […] How can this be prevented? By winning the presidential elections. The President of the Polish state must be a person who will stop Donald Tusk's monocracy and not allow him to destroy our freedom and democracy – he went on to say.

A pathetic setup by Trzaskowski, who is afraid of a second round with Mentzen! Look how prepared they are for the debate! Suddenly they pulled 12 lecterns out of nowhere! Sławomir Mentzen was invited to the debate 1.5 hours before its start! You in Trzaskowski's campaign are treating Poles like idiots! – wrote Confederation MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik.

Żenująca ustawka @trzaskowski_, który boi się drugiej tury z @SlawomirMentzen! Zobaczcie, jacy są przygotowani do debaty! Nagle wytrzasnęli 12 mównic nie wiadomo skąd! Sławomir Mentzen został zaproszony do debaty na 1,5 godziny przed jej rozpoczęciem! Traktujecie w sztabie… pic.twitter.com/2qUcGqaXEI

— Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (@EwaZajaczkowska) April 11, 2025

At 8 PM during the debate on TV Republika, host Katarzyna Gójska asked if the candidates wanted to stay and deliver their statements or if they wanted to "join Mr. Rafał Trzaskowski's debate.".

"Are we all going to that debate? If we are all going, let's make a free statement and let's all unanimously head to that debate," said Szymon Hołownia, after which the candidates began a series of free statements.

– This is the second time [Rafał Trzaskowski] has chickened out in Końskie. This did not raise controversy during our discussion, regardless of our differing views and how we look at Poland. We see that the world is currently at a geopolitical turning point, and Poland is in great chaos – in the justice system, which truly needs to be fixed, because Poles cannot count on a fair trial today. Poland is shrinking, not developing – stated Karol Nawrocki during a TV Republika debate.

– When you hear high-ranking state officials saying that now is not the time to strictly adhere to the law, it makes the hair stand on end. When you hear and see that the faces of the Polish legal system, of Polish reckonings, are on one hand Ms. Ewa Wrzosek, and on the other Roman Giertych, it makes the hair stand on end. I would wish for us to get out of this someday, but I sincerely doubt it – said Krzysztof Stanowski during a debate on TV Republika.

– Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here. Much divides us, but one thing surely unites us. Both you and I are certainly Polish patriots. We think differently, we feel differently, we vote differently, but all of us, as we are here, want the good of Poland; otherwise, we wouldn't be here – said Szymon Hołownia during a debate on TV Republika.

– Otherwise, I would not have made the decision to run in these elections against the deputy of Donald Tusk and against the deputy of Jarosław Kaczyński. To offer you a real change, not just another swap in the palace, which is meant to lead to someone else jailing someone and winning parliamentary elections – he continued.

– May 18th is not a time to say: I love Donald, or I hate him. It is a time to say: I love Poland – he went on to say.

– You know, when you organize a debate for three television stations and you don't want to let my campaign team in, that my chief of staff, Paweł Szefernakera, a minister, Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign chief, has not invited the campaign team to the discussion. Don't pretend, ladies and gentlemen. Where is Mr. Rafał? – said Karol Nawrocki in a conversation with journalists after entering the hall where the second debate is to take place.

– The organizer of the debate is the election campaign staff of presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski, and Telewizja Polska, TVN24, and Polsat News have undertaken the task of conducting and realizing this debate, and – importantly – making the signal available free of charge to all interested media outlets – said Joanna Dunikowska-Paź at the beginning of the debate.

– Today, there is no need to introduce mandatory, universal conscription in Poland, because today the key for us is to have as many of us as possible undergo voluntary training, the kind that will help us in case of a threat, but also in our daily civilian lives – stated Szymon Hołownia during the debate.

– Military service should be based on the fundamental principle of voluntariness. The National Defence Act allows for compulsory military service in wartime. I want a safe Poland, without war, which is fulfilling its tasks, including in the Ministry of National Defence, and we are aware of the declining dynamic of enlistment in the army and the Territorial Defence Force. This is a real problem for today's army. There are fewer and fewer recruits – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– What has happened in recent days also requires comment. We are in a situation where effectively my main opponent, Rafał Trzaskowski, did not have the courage to appear for the debate, and afterwards, parts of the public and two conservative television stations were excluded from reporting such a debate. I am here out of respect for viewers of TVN, state television, and Polsat, but the greatest threat is a coward becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces – he continued.

– Of course, I am against conscription. Poland must not only have the largest army in Europe, which it already does, the largest NATO army in Europe outside of Turkey, but it must be the best-equipped, modern army, an army that is also strengthened by a deep reserve, and therefore it is very good that there are trainings and the Ministry of National Defence organizes them. I myself have even attended such training – said Rafał Trzaskowski during a debate.

– In addition, my project 'Second Mission', we must take advantage of the fact that we already have very experienced soldiers, e.g. from special forces, and their incredible potential needs to be utilized – he continued.

– I am surprised that we have all so readily accepted what happened here today, because we had to, in a way, force our way into this debate, storm in here, and not all of us are present. Not all presidential candidates are here. This seems exceptionally unfair to me – Krzysztof Stanowski said during the debate.

– It seems exceptionally unfair to me that only those who had nothing planned for today, or whose locations were close enough to make it in time, showed up here. This is not how it should have been – he assessed.

– It shouldn't be the case that public television, facing liquidation, is in a way organizing an event, producing an event for one of the presidential candidates. This situation is completely incomprehensible to me and difficult to accept. If we were all here – I could stomach it, but half of the candidates are missing – he pointed out.

– Today we are in a situation where Poland's western border is under pressure from illegal migrants. I saw this in Słubice and Gubin when I was there, how illegal immigrants are crossing, and the Polish government has abdicated its responsibility to deal with the western border. Meanwhile, Rafał Trzaskowski, who is present here today, as Minister for European Affairs, signed and clearly spoke about letting in illegal migrants. Today, he has become somewhat more anti-immigrant. As President of Poland, I will strive for unilateral renunciation of the migration pact – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– Today, we have a hybrid war on our eastern border, and therefore we must have the safest border in Europe. This is happening. Unfortunately, our predecessors and PiS, Mr. Szefernaker, the chief of staff of my opponent, was responsible for refugee policy, and we saw what he did. That government was handing out visas left and right in a corrupt procedure, letting in hundreds of thousands of migrants. He was unable to control the border – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

"The Polish border must be sealed, it cannot be crossed illegally. It must be sealed and guarded. However, when it comes to the labor market, I don't understand, for example, Rafał Trzaskowski's change of stance regarding the act we passed, that 800+ will be granted only to those Ukrainian children who will attend school" – said Szymon Hołownia during a debate.

"After all, these children will stay here. They will learn Polish, they will have Polish friends, and they will fill in with their taxes and contributions that deficit which Poland has today" – he continued.

"In Poland, we talk a lot about what to do to have fewer foreigners here, but we hardly talk at all about what to do to have more Poles. That's what we should focus on today, and that's what I would like to focus on as president, designing a truly pro-demographic development policy for our country with all parties" – he went on to say.

– Trzaskowski chickened out and did not attend the first debate in this election organized by TV Republika, TV Trwam, and wPolsce24. There is panic in Trzaskowski's campaign, so he decided to falsely attack me. Coward and liar! – Paweł Szefernaker wrote on social media.

Trzaskowski stchórzył i nie przyszedł na pierwszą debatę w tych wyborach organizowaną przez @RepublikaTV, @TV_Trwam i @wPolscepl. W sztabie Trzaskowskiego panika, więc postanowił mnie kłamliwie zaatakować.
Tchórz i kłamca!

— Paweł Szefernaker ?? (@szefernaker) April 11, 2025

– I will defend Polish coal. Polish coal should be mined, extracted, and developed for the Republic of Poland, and our brilliant scientists will work to ensure that Polish mines are as low-emission as possible – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– This does not, of course, absolve us of our obligation on our path and vision towards nuclear energy, which is the most stable and flexible. RES – only where it is socially acceptable. Today in Poland, people are protesting against wind turbines – he continued.

– It was the PiS government that led to us having and continuing to have the highest energy prices in Europe. They were unable to even utilize EU funds for the modernization of our entire energy sector because these funds were not flowing into Poland, and they specialized only in importing Russian coal to Poland. Meanwhile, it was we who introduced what is most important, the project of an energy union, which ensures our security. Thanks to this, we were able to become independent from Russia – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– The President is someone who has contacts worldwide and is capable of negotiating the terms of agreements that bind us. We must postpone ETS2, there is no doubt about it. However, the model of Polish energy must today be based on Polish sun, Polish wind, Polish atomic energy, Polish biogas plants, and all of this must be stabilized by a sensibly arranged energy storage system – stated Szymon Hołownia during the debate.

– You said various things about security, but among other things, you spoke about ending the war in Ukraine and stated that you would bring about a situation where the President of the United States, the President of Russia, and the President of Ukraine would sit at the negotiating table, and only you, no one else from the European Union. How do you plan to achieve this if you have no relations within the European Union, and how do you intend for all of Europe to be represented in these negotiations by Poland alone – said Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– Mr. Nawrocki is pursued by Vladimir Putin, Mr. Vice-Chairman, the same one your boss walked with on the pier, please do not make a fool of yourself regarding Russian propaganda. I have overthrown 42 objects of Soviet propaganda, and that is why they are pursuing me. It is ridiculous and unserious – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– I don’t know what you were doing in Moscow at the time you went there right after the war in Ukraine began, but yes, precisely, you are repeating the words of Russian propaganda, and this is not a responsible matter. It is a matter today that deserves criticism from all of us. How can someone say that the EU is a co-author of the war that Putin started, Putin who is murdering Ukrainians, who is threatening all of Europe? Russians are exploiting this, these kinds of words. It’s astonishing that one can speak this way – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– Are you aware that spending as much as 5% of GDP on defense means indebtedness not only for our generation, but for our children and grandchildren, that it will have to be repaid, and that it will impact the level of healthcare, housing, and worsen the lives of Poles? – Joanna Senyszyn said during the debate, asking Rafał Trzaskowski a question.

– Today, security is paramount, and wherever I go, everyone clearly tells me this, and that's why we must spend 5% of GDP precisely on our security. Attention, 50% of all investment expenditures are to be invested in the Polish defense industry, thanks to which new jobs will be created, and the entire economy will be boosted – replied the Civic Coalition candidate.

– Thanks to our pressure, the European Union is starting to speak Poland's language and wants to transfer billions for armaments in Europe, including for the Polish defense industry, for facilitating exporters. This is exactly what we need to do today – he continued.

– It is unbelievable that in this situation, Mr. Nawrocki is echoing Russian propaganda, because to say that the European Union is co-responsible for the war in Ukraine is simply Russian propaganda, and today we need a mega strong European Union that will spend a lot of money on defense, and also on the Polish arms industry – he went on to say.

– We should all rejoice that the EU speaks our language, because this is, generally speaking, our great victory. The EU is talking about 'East Shield' being a European project. This means that our military will definitely be in Poland, because it will defend this border, that this is our task to fulfill – said Rafał Trzaskowski during a debate.

– If EU money flows in through very cheap loans, it will be used to strengthen our defense industry. And that's exactly what it's about – investing in Poland, creating new jobs here, and thus making our defense industry the driving force of the entire economy – he continued.

– I know that you [addressing Marek Jakubiak – ed.] have specialized in defending PiS, but please read the independent NIK (Supreme Audit Office) report, which clearly stated that these gentlemen, who today have the audacity to talk about security and the migration plan – the migration pact, by the way, will never come into effect because we won't allow it – there is a lot of evidence that they were handing out fake visas left and right. What's more, when we passed a law to tighten up the system, they voted against it – said Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– I have used these eighteen months, given to me as Marshal of the Sejm, to elevate parliamentary diplomacy to a level unseen before in the Sejm. I created the Białystok format, a format for the Speakers of the Parliaments of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Ukraine, which meets regularly every few months to exchange key information – said Szymon Hołownia during a debate.

– Participating in all meetings of parliament speakers, I can say that I am on first-name terms with all European parliament speakers, perhaps with the exception of Hungary, and with several presidents and prime ministers, in order to exchange information and to be able to plan actions together, especially in what I believe is a critical area for Poland today: Northern policy – he continued.

– The future president should build Poland's power as a major force not only in Eastern Europe, but above all in Northern Europe – he went on to say.

– I am a non-partisan candidate, the Marshal knows this well, so please do not look for a third way between myself and Rafał Trzaskowski, because Rafał Trzaskowski is the only member of a political party in this duo of ours – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– For 7 years, I have pursued the politics of Polish state memory as the director of the WWII Museum and the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, and I have relationships worldwide. I don't want to boast about them, but I will say something. I have always been with this beautiful white and red flag, and I will represent it. I also have something for Rafał Trzaskowski, because he has been avoiding this symbolism lately, my chief of staff, whom he has already mentioned, chased after him for showing a photo with the LGBT flag from "Gazeta Wyborcza". So, Mr. Rafał, I have always been with the white and red flag worldwide for many years and in the future, and others do it their own way – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– It was very sad, ladies and gentlemen, as we were conferring before this debate, my staff said that something like this could happen, I said that a PiS candidate wouldn't stoop to such a cheap trick, because I truly won't deny anyone the right to the white and red [flag], we have the right to place the white and red on our tables – said Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– You have some absolute obsession, and President Kaczyński as well, about gays. I don't know what you're afraid of? Kaczyński is afraid of Europe, he's afraid of gays, he's afraid of the rodeo, it's truly something unprecedented, fear and complexes – he continued.

– I have been involved in European politics my entire life, I was the Minister for European Affairs, I worked in the European Parliament – he added.

– When I joined this presidential race, I was genuinely convinced that I would be by far the most unserious candidate in the group. However, the longer this election campaign goes on, the more I start to doubt myself and appreciate just how comical this campaign is becoming on many levels – stated Krzysztof Stanowski during the debate.

– The Polish president should get on a plane, ensuring Poland's security, and embark on a journey that should definitely include Mons, the NATO headquarters. Paris should be included because we will be signing a very important agreement with Paris at this moment, and our relations within the EU are perhaps most significant with Paris – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during a debate.

– And of course, Washington, because meeting with President Trump's administration in these difficult times [...] is very important to show Americans what strong cards we hold. That we are buying American equipment, that we are spending 5% of our GDP on armament, and that we have influence in Europe. Because only then will we be a partner to the Americans if we show: I am coming from Paris and NATO, in order to strengthen Europe and the alliance with the USA – he continued.

– When I become the President of Poland, my first visit will of course be to Washington, to sort out our international relations and accomplish what Donald Tusk's government is not doing. It will be a visit to Washington with a stopover in the Vatican. As the President of the IPN [Institute of National Remembrance], I began my presidency precisely with a visit to the Vatican, and those were three very good years for the IPN. It will be both symbolic and important – said Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– I am also a proponent of Poland in the EU. This is a natural and also strategic matter, just like NATO, but I am an opponent of all centralizing reforms, so of course, there must be deep cooperation with the EU, but we must not allow the EU we joined to become a different EU, a European superstate – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– I wanted to offer it to Rafał Trzaskowski, because I just saw that he had hidden the rainbow flag. I am not ashamed of it, I will gladly take it from you, sir – said Magdalena Biejat during the debate, after which she approached Rafał Trzaskowski, who bent down, took the flag from behind the table, and handing it to the Left candidate, said “here you go.”

– I am proud of Poland and I am proud that our citizens, including those from the rainbow community, are choosing Poland – Biejat said, placing the flag on her table.

– I have a question, of course, for Rafał Trzaskowski. You are the only politician in this group who has been openly funded by the German state, Campus Polska, the Adenauer Foundation. What commitments did you make to the German state in exchange for these funds? – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– I wondered if we would encounter a bit of paranoia in this debate, but it's clear there's total paranoia. Again, some anti-German phobias, I really don't understand this. How can one, today, when there is a threat from Russia, constantly fear only and exclusively Germans? You live in the 21st century. Of course, one must call out Germans for their mistakes, and pressure them regarding European policy, and this is happening today, but you are confusing everything. Today, support for Europe is support for the most essential pillar of European NATO – responded Rafał Trzaskowski.

– I want to ask Mr. Nawrocki, what are you actually afraid of in this EU? Because once, not so long ago, President Kaczyński himself announced that he wanted a European army and that the President of the EU should command it, and today it's simply constant fear, complexes, hiding. After all, today, being strong in the EU, convincing the EU to do exactly what we want, that is the guarantee of our security. What are you afraid of in this Union? – asked Rafał Trzaskowski, addressing Karol Nawrocki.

– Mr. Vice-Chairman of Civic Platform, if you want to ask President Kaczyński, please ask him. Karol Nawrocki stands before you here. I am not afraid of anything in the EU. I am not afraid, of course, of negotiating with the EU on issues that do not suit me as the future President of Poland. I do not like, but I am not afraid of, all the centralization reforms and attempts to centralize many sectors of Polish life, including Polish defense and Polish education. We see what is happening on our western border because of the migration pact, this is an objective matter – replied the candidate supported by PiS.

– Today, we are not dealing with normal migratory pressure, which we fought effectively, but with a real hybrid war and an attempt to destabilize the European Union. The previous government could not even secure this border, it could not secure the Polish state, and we are doing it. So it's no wonder that there was room for criticism regarding the failed attempts to secure Polish security – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– I have a question for Mr. Nawrocki. Continuing the thread of verifying your competencies, in the interest, of course, of our viewers, for the office of president: what are the names of the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, and to make it easier for you, also Hungary? It seems to me that to quickly get into the presidential work, you won't be able to use Wikipedia – said Szymon Hołownia during the debate, posing a question to the candidate supported by PiS.

– Mr. Speaker, you've seemingly forgotten that you are no longer hosting a talent show on TVN, but you are a speaker participating in a presidential debate, and it is not you who asks the questions [...] questions are asked of the speaker, there are editors there, and I will not now list further presidents from the European Union, whom you have likely met as the Speaker of the Polish state – said Karol Nawrocki.

– I will not list further first and last names of European leaders for you, Mr. Speaker, this is a completely unserious convention, Mr. Speaker, with these countries, of course, especially with the Baltic states, I will maintain [...] excellent relations as the future president of the Polish state, regardless of what the presidents of these countries are called – he continued.

– Absolutely yes [I would sign the bill lowering health contributions for entrepreneurs], because the government must fulfill its promises. And this system, which was introduced by Morawiecki, which unfortunately was finishing off entrepreneurs and imposed enormous burdens on them, requiring them to pay contributions that were definitely too high, must be lowered – said Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– The Minister of Finance clearly stated that this will not happen at the expense of the National Health Fund (NFZ), that these funds will be generated. Today, enormous funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO) are also going towards fighting cancer, towards strengthening our infrastructure. I myself secured 200 million zlotys for Warsaw hospitals from the KPO – he continued.

– We need to do both: provide relief to entrepreneurs, and on the other hand, reform healthcare. And it's good that this is happening – he assessed.

– Rafał, you won't defend this debate format. And we will probably have many more opportunities to discuss this – stated Szymon Hołownia during the debate.

– Mr. Rafał, you are a product of a political laboratory, a politician detached from reality, from the everyday lives of Poles. You even reduce American relations to a Price Polo wafer, these 300 years of Polish-American relations during your meetings – stated Karol Nawrocki during the debate.

– I would see what is exactly written in it and I would also be ready to support such a solution, although I believe that local governments [building housing] and money from the European Union are the best solution – said Rafał Trzaskowski during a debate, responding to Magdalena Biejat’s question about whether he would veto the bill concerning housing loan subsidies.

– I have said this many times, and everyone knows well that today, with this propaganda effort that is constantly dividing Polish society, unfortunately, there is no majority at the moment to introduce this type of change [like a street named after Lech Kaczyński in Warsaw]. But I will surprise you again on this matter, because unlike you, I do not deny Lech Kaczyński certain merits for Polish democracy. When, for example, the conflict in Georgia broke out and I saw Lech Kaczyński there with other presidents of our region's countries, I was proud of him – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during a debate.

– Rafał, if it becomes necessary to oppose Donald Tusk on something that is of significant interest to Civic Platform, something he cares about, and you as president care about something else – will you have the strength and courage to oppose him? – Szymon Hołownia asked during the debate.

– Of course. I have disagreed many times regarding opinions. I am a person who, for example, has much more patience for the opposition, for everyone, and I try to unite Poles, not divide them. I would never fight over a flag; instead, I am able to grant everyone the right to patriotism – Rafał Trzaskowski replied.

– On the other hand, I have a completely different approach when it comes to viewing the state, because I am a local government official. I believe that local governments should have significantly more prerogatives in their hands, more money, including direct funds from the EU, which some of my colleagues do not share this opinion – he pointed out.

– The candidates all woke up because it's spring and they started racing to challenge me to one-on-one debates. So Mr. Nawrocki started, then Mr. Mentzen, there were a few others, so at Mr. Nawrocki's request for us to face off one-on-one, I said: okay, by all means, please come to Końskie, let's meet one-on-one. Unfortunately, Mr. Nawrocki chickened out, he didn't want to discuss with me one-on-one – stated Rafał Trzaskowski during the debate.

– When it turned out that many other people wanted to come, I said: by all means. Out of respect for you, out of respect for the voters, I was willing to face all the others – he continued.

– This [international] experience is very good, Mr. Chairman. Please do not worry. I think that on matters of memory policy, I have achieved more for Poland than you have managed to achieve in your entire political career. I will not list them now, but there have been many successes for the Institute of National Remembrance and the Museum of the Second World War, across all latitudes, for this beautiful, Polish white and red flag – said Karol Nawrocki during the debate, addressing Rafał Trzaskowski.

– "A debate organized by his own staff, led by journalists from friendly TV stations – and he still failed. You wanted this yourself, Grzegorz Dyndało…" – wrote Jarosław Kaczyński on social media.

– "All that's left are public transport trips. Karol Nawrocki wins in Końskie! The choice is clear – only #Nawrocki2025" – emphasized the PiS chairman.

„Debata” organizowana przez własny sztab, prowadzona przez dziennikarzy zaprzyjaźnionych telewizji – a i tak poległ. Sam tego chciałeś, Grzegorzu Dyndało…
Zostały mu tylko podróże telekomunikacją miejską.
Karol Nawrocki wygrywa w Końskich! Wybór jest jasny – tylko…

— Jarosław Kaczyński (@OficjalnyJK) April 11, 2025