Thread by @anneapplebaum

Polish election thread:

1. The national post office distributed this leaflet, "Your Referendum Vote," to everyone in Poland. An acquaintance got it yesterday. Main headline: "IT'S ALREADY AN INVASION, THEY ARE SAILING HERE!" Photo is of African refugees on the Mediterranean

2. the leaflet is printed by the deceptively named "Indepedent Media Foundation," a state-funded organization, according to this article: wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/poczta-po…

The reference is to a question on the referendum that will be held on Oct 15: "Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, in accordance with the forced-relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy?”

4. Note that there is no "force-relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy", this is an invention. The purpose of the referendum, which is of dubious legality, is to persuade Poles that there is, and that the opposition approves of it.

5. The referendum is being held alongside a general parliamentary election, and is, a designed to persuade voters that an opposition victory will lead to immigration from the Middle East and Africa. Also more higher retirement age, etc

6. The biggest immigration from the Middle East and Africa in Polish history took place over the last several years, under the current government, some of whose bureaucrats were selling visas in exchange for bribes. Obviously the leaflet doesn't explain that.

7. Already, the visa scandal has repercussions, with European leaders demanding explanations: reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-10-0…

8. Millions in taxpayers money is being spent, nevertheless, in order to scare Poles into believing that they will be "invaded" if they vote for the opposition. It's a state-organized disinformation campaign. Here's the leaflet again:

Lesson of the story: Don't let an autocratic political party take over your country.
More here: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…