Trzaskowski Responds to Controversial Facebook Ads Before Polish Elections
On a tense Friday, **Rafał Trzaskowski**, a prominent figure in Polish politics, found himself in the crosshairs of allegations surrounding questionable Facebook advertisements. These ads, which seemingly promoted his candidacy while targeting **right-wing opponents**, raised eyebrows about possible external financing.
The Allegations: External Financing and Coordination
As reported by the Polish media outlet Wirtualna Polska, suspicions are running high over connections to an Austrian firm working with the activist organization, **Akcja Demokracja**. What’s more alarming is that the advertising accounts in question reportedly spent more on political content in the past week than any official election committee in Poland.
In a staunch rebuttal, Trzaskowski’s campaign asserted there was **no coordinated effort** linking them to these ads. The team clarified that they played no role in crafting or promoting the contentious content.
Za publikowanymi w internecie reklamami politycznymi promującymi Rafała Trzaskowskiego i atakującymi jego konkurentów stoi pracownik i wolontariusze fundacji Akcja Demokracja – wynika z informacji WP
@SzJadczak i @PatrykSlowik https://t.co/3rin5S5VkW— Wirtualna Polska (@wirtualnapolska) May 15, 2025
The National Security Response
The unfolding controversy has not gone unnoticed by Poland’s national security agencies. The **Internal Security Agency (ABW)** reacted swiftly, prompted by a tip from the government-affiliated research institute, **NASK**. The agency had evidently briefed high-ranking officials, including the president and prime minister, before making formal requests for action.
In light of these developments, Trzaskowski’s team formally lodged a complaint with the prosecution service, demanding that **Meta**, Facebook’s parent company, take immediate measures to block unauthorized political ads.
W związku z pojawiającym się pytaniami dotyczącymi informacji NASK o wykrytych możliwych ingerencjach w proces wyborczy informujemy, że 9 maja w godzinach późno popołudniowych z NASK do MC wpłynęła informacja o zidentyfikowanych anomaliach.
— Ministerstwo Cyfryzacji (@CYFRA_GOV_PL) May 16, 2025
The Cyber Threat: PM Tusk Responds to Russian Hackers
Adding fuel to the fire, **Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk** revealed on Friday that his ruling coalition’s websites faced a cyberattack from Russian hackers just two days prior to the critical elections.
Only two days before the Polish elections a group of Russian hackers active on Telegram have attacked the Civic Platform internet sites…
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) May 16, 2025
The Broader Implications
This situation underscores the **fragile state of democracy** in Poland as external interference becomes more pronounced. The simultaneous allegations against Trzaskowski’s campaign, coupled with cyber threats targeting political figures, mark a **disturbing trend** in the country’s electoral landscape.
As the situation continues to evolve, all eyes are on the Polish political scene—will comprehensive measures be taken to safeguard the integrity of its democratic process? Only time will tell.
