Leading Polish candidates meet for debate on state TV six days before a national election

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA
Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s opposition leader Donald Tusk tells viewers of state TV that he is a regular person, just like them, as he spars with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in an energized debate in which each tried to sway undecided voters, days before a crucial parliamentary election. Since the conservative Law and Justice party won power in 2015, it has used TVP as a mouthpiece that praises government policies and vilifies the opposition. The debate Monday is a rare chance for Tusk to reach out to conservative supporters of the ruling party. Commentators later said that Tusk was nervous, which affected his performance, while Morawiecki continued his usual attacks on Tusk.