Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk denied rumours that he was going to run in next year’s presidential election, saying he was not suitable for the role, according to Euractiv.
Andrzej Duda, twice nominated by the conservative PiS (ECR) party, is set to complete his second term as Poland’s president. Under the Polish constitution, he cannot seek a third, paving the way for other candidates.
Even though nominating a single candidate could potentially boost the coalition’s chances, the parties decided to run separately. Tusk announced on Wednesday, 23 October, that his Civic Platform Party (PO, EPP) would announce its candidate on 7 December.
It will be someone who, first, is best suited for the office, second – has the best chance of winning, and third – it won’t be me. Really!
As PO candidate, Tusk lost the presidential election in the second round to Lech Kaczyński of PiS (ECR) in 2005. Undeterred, he led his party to victory in the 2007 parliamentary elections, after which he became prime minister. Kaczyński died in a plane crash near Smolensk in 2010.
Since returning to power in Poland after parliamentary elections a year ago, Tusk had an uneasy relationship with Duda, who used his veto power to block many of the government’s policy decisions. Last week, Tusk openly accused Duda of remaining loyal to his old PiS party against the interests of the state.
Though Tusk did not need to be president, the right one was necessary for the current government to convey its stance to voters, Mirosław Oczkoś, a political marketing expert and analyst, said.
The ruling coalition needs the president from its own political camp, who would support its measures, not another one [like Duda] who would undermine its policies and ruin everything.
Oczkoś stated that foreign minister Radosław Sikorski (PO, EPP) would be the best candidate as a tough diplomat with a rather belligerent outlook, especially in case Donald Trump won in the US.
Now are the times of strong personalities. Trzaskowski, with his experience, which is different than Sikorski’s, might be good if Kamala Harris wins, but he might not handle Trump.
