NATIONALIST POPULISM AND POST-COMMUNISM

5.1.3. Media discourse (2001) This section is based on an insight into the media discourse, as presented by the daily Gazeta Wyborcza. The processes of the consolidation of the political and economic system, as well as negotiations with the EU, shaped the media discourse in 2001 in a significant manner. There were, however, a number of concrete issues that were widely discussed in the media. While some of those issues had only a partial influence on the region’s politics, other were touched on quite intensively by the political leaders. The issue of the tragedy in Jedwabne was frequently mentioned in the examined newspaper, especially in the first half of 2001. Although the direct impact of this issue on the political development of the country was marginal, 158 it occupied an important place in the general discourse. Apart from the political elite, numerous academicians, especially historians, as well as representatives of local governments and Church representatives took part in the discussion. The second widely-discussed event was naturally the elections and their results, along with the creation of the new government and, consequently, the new Prime Minister Leszek Miller’s exposé in the parliament. Another issue that generated intensive political debate for a limited period of time was the election and the forthcoming withdrawal of Andrzej Lepper from the position of Vice Chairman of the Sejm. Ongoing negotiations with the EU were the third important issue characterising the political discourse in 2001. The debate on the length of the transition period concerning the right of foreigners to own land for agricultural purposes was one of the most intense issues in the whole negotiation process. Another divisive issue turned out to be the request of some opposition parties to organise a referendum on the EU accession. The analysis of the media discourse is complementary to the party manifesto analysis. The press statements undoubtedly reached a broader audience the than party programmes, and political leaders seemed to be aware of this fact. In order to present a more detailed overview of the usage of nationalist populist statements in the media discourse, the analysis will also encompass the statements of the leaders of minor parties, as well as other important actors influencing the political discourse. Nevertheless, the main focus is on the representatives of the most significant political parties that managed to become members of parliament.

158 The issue of Jedwabne was used as a negative point of reference in the appeals of the leaders of the marginal political parties.

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