The First Pre-election debate

[Pawian]

Prime Minister Kaczyński, leader of right-wing ruling party PiS, and former leftist President, Kwaśniewski, now leader of the leftist party LiD, have just finished the first TV debate.

Kaczyński defended the achievements of his government, Kwaśniewski denounced and critisized them. Kwaśniewski defended the achievements under his presidency, while Kaczyński attacked them.

The result is a draw, in my opinion.

There were a few funny moments.

E.g., while Kaczyński is speaking, Kwaśniewski is cutting in. So Kaczyński resorts: You see, you are always cutting in because you can`t bear it. You fully realise that the weight of my arguments is so powerful that you can`t bear it, you have no chance with me! (laughter and applause from the audience).
www.onet.tv/30121,7692,19,2722094,1,1,0,0,wideo.html

[Pawian]

Kaczyński boasts of his diplomatic relations with European leaders and denounces Kwaśniewski`s successes. The latter answers: You can`t know how I was received by European leaders because you didn`t travel with me in my luggage!

Or:

Kwaśniewski:

I don`t believe that you believe in all those false thesis but I am afraid that you might believe in them.
www.onet.tv/30121,7692,19,2722108,1,1,0,0,wideo.html

[Pawian]

Now a question off the topic. It came to my mind while watching the debate...

How do English speakers receive the Polish speech?

Germans or Russians think the Polish language resembles hissing of steam coming out through the kettle`s whistle.

What about you?

[Pawian]

Both politicians agreed on one thing: Ukraine. Kaczynski critisized Kwaśniewski for everything except for what the latter has done for the pro-Western Orange Revolution in Ukraine.

Both of them realise that free and independent Ukraine is a key factor to Poland`s sovereignty.

[Jaga]

I missed the debate. referring to cutting into the speech, I watched the parts of the discussions with people on both sides - pro-Kaczynski and pro-Kwasniewski a couple of hours before the debate. A journalist asked the questions - and the both respondents were talking for long time and were refusing to stop talking and reply to the next question of the journalist.

It looked as like journalists questions were almost ignored. One could just hear the monoloques on both sides unwilling to stop...

[Jaga]

It is interesting that even International Herald Tribune talked about the debate:

Poland's PM and former president head into televised debate in close election race

WARSAW, Poland: Poland's anti-communist prime minister and an ex-communist former president go head-to-head in a televised debate Monday with polls predicting a tight contest at parliamentary elections in three weeks.

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and former President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who is now the candidate for prime minister for the Left and Democrats, or LiD, will appear live on state television in what is tipped to be a heated debate.

The LiD — an alliance of former communists and smaller center-right parties that is third in the polls — could play a key role in deciding the makeup of the next government.

The debate is the first in Poland's short election campaign as parties jostle for position before the Oct. 21 polls.

The debate was organized after Kwasniewski challenged Kaczynski to meet him one-on-one. The leader of the main opposition Civic Platform said he would like to debate with the man considered to have triumphed in Monday's debate.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/europe/EU-GEN-Poland-Elections.php