Poland has 'courage to oppose movers and shakers': conservative leader

Speaking at a convention ahead of the autumn’s local elections, Jarosław Kaczyński said that his ruling socially conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party aimed to help Poland catch up with Western Europe in terms of prosperity in a short time.

"We want Poland to bridge the gap with Western European countries in terms of the standard of living and level of economic development within a historically short period of time, and this can be done,” Kaczyński told a regional election convention in the northeastern city of Olsztyn.

He argued that his party deserved to win the upcoming local government elections and consolidate its power because it was credible and delivered on its promises to citizens.

“We have had the courage to rid our ranks of those who have wronged, and we have also had the courage to oppose the movers and shakers of this world” to defend Poland’s national interests, Kaczyński said.

He added: “We have had the courage to undertake that great effort based on the fact that we are doing in Poland something that is strongly disliked by the mighty ones, including those at home, who are still the strongest.”

Reflecting on his party’s policies, he said: “We could've chosen to travel a different, softer, road that would've brought no change while guaranteeing us various benefits. But we have chosen a path that leads uphill, very steeply uphill, and we have all the while been pelted with rocks and braved avalanches that are coming down on us, and yet we are persevering along this path, which is a guarantee of our credibility," he said.

In a campaign speech earlier this month, Kaczyński vowed to fight what he called “cliques” and old-boy networks among local governments across the country.

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Source: TVP Info, PAP