Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a leading member of the Civic Coalition, the largest grouping in Poland's coalition government, has hinted that he wants to run in next year's presidential election.
Trzaskowski has been widely touted as a possible candidate in the race to become the next Polish president but has, so far, remained coy about his future.
Poland goes to the polls next year with Andrzej Duda, the incumbent president, due to step down after serving his constitutional limit of two terms.
One of the most recognisable faces in the center-right Civic Coalition (KO), Trzaskowski has been mayor of the Polish capital since 2018 and is also a former European affairs minister. He came close to becoming president in 2020, losing to Duda, who won 51.21% of the vote.
Asked if he would run for the presidency again, Trzaskowski said in an interview for the news magazine Polityka: "There is no greater honor and no greater responsibility than running for the presidency in Poland. Therefore, to answer your question: I am always ready to take on ambitious challenges.”
He added: “This will be one of the most important decisions of my entire political grouping, and it will certainly be made with my participation."
Trzaskowski said that while it was possible the different parties that form the government would propose their own presidential contenders, a joint candidate would “be significant proof of [the ruling coalition’s] strength and evidence of stable cooperation."
Law and Justice, the main opposition party and the biggest grouping in the Polish parliament, has yet to announce its presidential candidate, but speculation has focused on Mateusz Morawiecki, the conservative former prime minister.
Poland goes to the polls next year with Andrzej Duda, the incumbent president, due to step down after serving his constitutional limit of two terms.
One of the most recognisable faces in the center-right Civic Coalition (KO), Trzaskowski has been mayor of the Polish capital since 2018 and is also a former European affairs minister. He came close to becoming president in 2020, losing to Duda, who won 51.21% of the vote.
Asked if he would run for the presidency again, Trzaskowski said in an interview for the news magazine Polityka: "There is no greater honor and no greater responsibility than running for the presidency in Poland. Therefore, to answer your question: I am always ready to take on ambitious challenges.”
He added: “This will be one of the most important decisions of my entire political grouping, and it will certainly be made with my participation."
Trzaskowski said that while it was possible the different parties that form the government would propose their own presidential contenders, a joint candidate would “be significant proof of [the ruling coalition’s] strength and evidence of stable cooperation."
Law and Justice, the main opposition party and the biggest grouping in the Polish parliament, has yet to announce its presidential candidate, but speculation has focused on Mateusz Morawiecki, the conservative former prime minister.
Source: Polityka
