Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has stirred controversy by releasing portions of a highly classified defense plan as part of a campaign tactic aimed at discrediting the opposition in the lead-up to the general election scheduled for October 15.
“Attention! The Tusk government was ready to cede half of the country in the event of a war,” stated Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak in a video shared by PiS on social media on September 17, marking the 84th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s attack on Poland in 1939.
The minister was referring to a strategic defense plan from 2011, which was prepared during the tenure of former Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk, who is now the head of the Civic Coalition alliance, is striving to prevent PiS from securing an unprecedented third consecutive term in power.
This advertisement aims to consolidate PiS support in the eastern regions of the country, its historical stronghold, by asserting that liberals from Tusk’s party do not prioritize their interests. It also seeks to alter the prevailing narrative following a challenging week for PiS, during which the party faced inquiries regarding an alleged visa-for-bribes scheme within the foreign ministry.
While the defense plan in question is outdated, the public release of certain contents has triggered strong reactions among top generals who served under administrations preceding PiS. They emphasized that plans to adopt more defensive postures are standard components of military doctrine.
According to POLITICO’s aggregate poll, PiS is leading with 37 percent support, while the Civic Coalition is trailing with 30 percent. If these numbers hold, neither party will secure sufficient seats to govern without coalition partners.
