Speaking at a meeting with voters in Warsaw on Thursday, Hołownia warned against the dangers posed by populists and extremists, urging greater engagement in political discussions.
"Every meeting with voters, every conversation, and every signature is worth its weight in gold and our freedom," Hołownia told the gathering.
He emphasized the need to "wake Poland up" by listening to those who feel uncertain about the country’s direction and fear for its future.
With 80 days remaining until the election, Hołownia urged his supporters not to focus on opinion polls but instead to prioritize grassroots engagement.
"Every conversation, every person reached, every evening spent speaking to those we don’t yet know is invaluable," he said.
He framed the upcoming vote as a pivotal moment, saying: "You have been called upon, not by me but by fate, by providence, by Poland, to take on the most important task of your lives—to ensure the security and development of our homeland and to secure our place in the West, not the East of Europe."
Despite these challenges, Hołownia expressed optimism about Poland’s role in Europe. Given the current geopolitical instability, he argued that Poland has an opportunity to take on a leadership role within the continent.
Hołownia warned that the outcome of the election would have direct implications for Poland’s security and the stability of the region.
He pointed to what he described as a growing "wave of extremism" in Europe and highlighted the pro-Russian stance of politicians in Hungary, Slovakia and Germany, specifically mentioning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
"You know this party, you have read their program—I have read it," he said, noting that AfD advocates for resuming trade with Russia and lifting sanctions.
"We know from history how deals between Russia and Germany over our heads end – we've been through this before," he cautioned.
Hołownia also raised concerns about the potential electoral success of Sławomir Mentzen and the far-right Confederation party in Poland, arguing that their victory would embolden AfD.
He warned that if the Czech Republic were to shift away from its pro-democratic, Western orientation, Poland would face serious challenges.
"That makes victory in Poland even more crucial," he said.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP