https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-centrist-nationalist-presidential-candidates-face-off-2nd-round-2025-05-19/
“Honey, let’s go vote for leaving the EU, punishing homosexuals, a total abortion ban, abolishing most taxes, banning divorce, and replacing the legal code with religion.” Sounds absurd? And yet, over 20% of voters in yesterday’s Polish presidential election supported exactly those kinds of views.
Two far-right candidates — together, they won one fifth of the Polish vote. Add to that nearly 30% for the candidate of a party that spent the last eight years dismantling democracy, humiliating us on the international stage, and tearing apart the social fabric of this country.
But the worst part? Over 30% of citizens didn’t vote at all. After all the years of fighting for freedom and democracy, after decades of building a sovereign, European Poland — over 10 million people chose to stay home.
This isn’t just about political preferences anymore. It’s about fundamental values. About whether Poland will be a country that’s open and safe for everyone — or whether we’re about to rewind history by decades.
I’m ashamed. I’m heartbroken. And for the first time, I’m seriously wondering whether this place is still my home.
Let’s hope the second round brings people back to their senses. This might be our last wake-up call. Although the example of the United States shows that it’s not always possible.