Poland's October vote overshadowed by anti-migrant rhetoric

Anti-migrant rhetoric is dominating the political landscape in Poland ahead of the general election on October 15. The right-wing populist government and far-right parties have exploited the refugee crises to promote xenophobic propaganda, painting non-European refugees and migrants as terrorists. The conversation around migration has shifted dramatically in the past three years, with a focus on the recent refugee crises on Poland's western borders. Surprisingly, there has been a shift in rhetoric among right-wing parties to include anti-Ukrainian sentiments. Other parties outside the right-wing sphere have also tried to outdo each other by supporting a firm response to non-European refugees and migrants. The film "Green Border," which depicts the Poland-Belarus border crisis, has sparked political debate, with the government planning to run ads defending its treatment of migrants and refugees. Former European Council President Donald Tusk and the centrist opposition Civic Coalition have also stoked fears of mass migration.