Telewizyjne debaty prezydenckie w Polsce w 2010 roku

The paper discusses the course of the most significant televised debates between the candidates for the office of President of Poland, held before the first and second round of 2010 presidential elections. Three debates are subjected to a detailed analysis. One was held before the first round, and it involved Bronisław Komorowski, Jarosław Kaczyński, Grzegorz Napieralski and Waldemar Pawlak; two other took place before the second round between Bronisław Komorowski and Jarosław Kaczyński. Two fundamental areas are analyzed: (1) the content of the candidates’ statements (i.e. the message), and (2) all the elements affecting the candidates’ image and their reception by the TV audience (or – simplifying – the form in which the message is rendered). The conclusion shows that the debates in 2010 were more exciting and interesting than those held five years earlier, yet their significance was nowhere near that of the 1995 debates. Nevertheless, in 2010 the permanent position of televised presidential debates in Poland has been confirmed while indicating that in the future both their formula and course should undergo changes.