Your editorial rightly celebrates the good news for Poland and Europe (The Guardian view on Poland’s election: a record turnout delivers a landmark result, 16 October). This was, however, not just the highest turnout “since the fall of communism”. It was higher than in the historic 1989 elections – partly rigged by the government to prevent upsets – that ended one-party rule.
Reporting on those elections was one of the privileges of my life. Of the 100 freely elected seats, 99 went to the previously banned Solidarity opposition. The Berlin Wall fell five months later.
But “only” 62.7% voted on that day. Some Poles remained pessimistic that their vote could truly change anything. What you rightly describe as a “stunning 73% turnout” – including young voters who queued into the early hours – was a declaration of belief that every vote does indeed matter. Staying at home would have spelled defeat. Hope and belief created this result, with lessons not just for Poland but for the rest of the world.
Steve Crawshaw
London
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