With the presidential elections upcoming in Poland, Maciej Maciak, a candidate and journalist known for disseminating Russian propaganda and openly expressing admiration for Vladimir Putin, is among those vying for the presidency.
Written by Krzysztof Ryncarz| Euractiv.pl
Scheduled for May 18th, the initial round of the presidential election includes Maciej Maciak as a candidate. Maciak is a little-known figure, polling well below 1 percent. Nevertheless, he is attracting growing attention due to his pro-Russian views and statements in which he echoes Kremlin propaganda and praises Vladimir Putin.
Maciej Maciak: A profile
Maciej Maciak, a 54-year-old journalist hailing from Włocławek, Poland, operates the YouTube channel “Musisz to wiedzieć” (You Need to Know). The channel boasts 67,600 subscribers and a library of 534 videos. Maciak is also the founder of the Prosperity and Peace Movement (Ruch Dobrobytu i Pokoju).
His public persona positions him as an advocate against militarization, a critic of the United States, and a supporter of strengthened ties with neighboring countries, particularly Russia and Belarus.
Despite his public profile, Maciak's background is not entirely clear. He has a history of unsuccessful attempts to enter politics. His first political bid was in 2006 for a seat in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Assembly. He subsequently ran for mayor of Włocławek city in 2018 and participated in the 2023 parliamentary elections, but was not elected in either instance.
In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Maciak acknowledged that he lacks a university degree. He initially applied to study pedagogy but was not admitted and later attempted to study law without success.
A proponent of Russian narratives
Maciej Maciak's content consistently aligns with Russian propaganda, expressing admiration for the governments of Russia and Belarus.
Following the war in Ukraine's commencement, he asserted that Western actions instigated the conflict and referred to "Ukrainian Nazis" as the supposed target of Russian military operations. He has also frequently voiced criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
These views predate the 2022 invasion. In 2019, Maciak stated that Crimea's separation from Ukraine complied with international law, declaring it "part of another country" to which Ukrainians have no right. He also alleged that the West incited Poland to provoke its neighbors, thereby initiating World War II.
Maciak also has connections to Daniel Mikusek, a Polish citizen residing in Belarus who hosts “Poles’ Conversations” on Belarus International Radio, a program known for disseminating pro-Russian propaganda. During a discussion with Mikusek, Maciak was asked what message he would convey to Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin.
“As a Pole, I would say: gentlemen, stay strong, you’re doing a great job, you are, in many respects, a bastion of normality in a world dominated by harmful capital. Stay strong – together, we will succeed. We’ll restore normalcy to people on this planet,” he replied.
While Maciak’s statements in Belarusian media are unlikely to reach a broad Polish audience, the claims he makes during presidential debates certainly do. During a debate hosted by Super Express on Monday, he openly stated that he admires Vladimir Putin.
“Do you admire Putin?” – asked fellow candidate Marek Jakubiak.
“Yes. Any one of us would crack under such pressure. The fact that he doesn’t shows he is a very good politician,” Maciak replied.
Maciak's comments garnered attention in both Poland and Russia. RIA Novosti reported on the "unexpected remarks about Putin by a Polish presidential candidate." Vladimir Kornilov, a political analyst from Rossiya Segodnya, also shared a video of Maciak's statement on social media.
“Yesterday, Polish viewers were in for a huge shock when, during a live debate, Polish presidential candidate Maciej Maciak openly declared his respect for Vladimir Putin. Can you imagine such a rebellion?” he wrote.
Controversy surrounding Maciak's statements
Maciak's recent statements have sparked considerable controversy, raising suspicions of possible ties to Russian intelligence. During a debate in Końskie, Szymon Hołownia, the Polish centre-right parliamentary speaker and fellow candidate, directly asked Maciak about alleged payments from Putin and whether his actions were voluntary.
Adding to the controversy, independent journalist Krzysztof Stanowski publicly labeled Maciak a "Russian propagandist" on his show and urged a thorough review of the signatures supporting his candidacy.
Responding to Hołownia's accusations, Maciak told Gazeta Wyborcza that such claims would only be met with "pity in the Kremlin." He insisted on his independence, declaring, "I’m no one’s agent."
To demonstrate he is not a Russia-backed candidate, Maciak highlighted his campaign's lack of funds. When Wyborcza questioned him about the number of posters and polling station representatives, he confessed to having none at that moment.
"We’re just getting the banners made. Putin doesn’t seem to be helping... Where are those millions and diamonds from Russia that are supposedly backing me?” he questioned.
