From Poland With Huh?

Komorowski (top), Kaczyński (bottom)
[I wanted to put them left/right, but I suck at HTML]

My girlfriend went home to Warsaw, Poland this week. Fun summer? Sucks. But the silver lining the cloud is that I can take heart in that my girlfriend is a hot Polish correspondent (and cook).

My girl in the field was born in Johannesburg and grew up as Nelson Mandela took his nation out of apartheid. The outcome of the election in Poland on Sunday could be as revolutionary for the country as it was in South Africa last century. She has a view almost as an outsider, with parents and TV to fill in the blanks. Here’s what I got from what she’s got:

Jarosław Kaczyński, twin brother of former president Lech - killed along with his wife and 94 tragic others - wants to bring an end to an era of secrets in government as well as his country. Recently, a list has been published online of those who had links or did favors for the old Communist Party. The degree of involvement is unknown until personal files become public. Kaczyński wants what the Freedom of Information Act allows here. Kaczyński is the only candidate running who has nothing to hide, in terms of relationships with the old flame, the girl next door.

Komorowski, Kacyzński's prime opponent, has a history of personal attacks on the former. Baiting seems to be the only thing he does on his hours on TV news. Unlike Kaczyński, Komorowski doesn’t want the files to go public. What has he to hide?

Britain’s stumble into a coalition was widely observed through all possible angles through more media than ever. What was recorded wasn’t very interesting in the end at least in this country (apart from the amusing ones, Biggotgate and ‘Sky News is shit’ unless Adam Boulton is causing some mirth). Poland lacks the luxury of terrestrial rolling news we take for granted. News broadcasts go out in regular slots, depending on how and where you receive your news, you often get told a different story. The news, like here, enjoys employing opinion polls. And the Pole’s polls shown on screen have already moved on to the next round of elections predicting 60:40 in favour of Komorowski. But as Komorowski spends his time attacking Kaczyński, Kaczyński spends his pushing his policy. One late evening news broadcast reported on a newsagent who had sold out issues of a magazine with Kaczyński and his wife on the cover. Komorowski doesn’t sell so well.

Komorowski’s lead in the opinion polls could be accurate, but it could be like in South Africa. My mum said she’d vote for de Klerk but went with Mandela. In Poland you’ve got to know someone to get a waitressing job, old connections still exist, so appearances can be deceiving.

Whichever way the election goes on Sunday in Poland, the outcome will be crucial for the future of the nation. As my Polish correspondent put it, "If Komorowski gets in we’ll have more dealings with Russia, if Kaczyński wins there are no more secrets. We’re fighting for the truth."