A cyberattack on the IT systems of Civic Platform, the largest party in Poland’s ruling coalition, has raised concerns about foreign interference ahead of the country’s high-stakes presidential election.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who heads the party, confirmed the attack on Wednesday, warning that the country’s electoral process may already be threatened.
He wrote on social media platform X: “Cyberattack on the Platform’s IT system. Foreign interference in the elections has begun.
“The security services indicate an eastern trace,” he added.
He wrote on social media platform X: “Cyberattack on the Platform’s IT system. Foreign interference in the elections has begun.
“The security services indicate an eastern trace,” he added.
Cyberatak na system informatyczny Platformy. Zaczęła się obca ingerencja w wybory. Służby wskazują na wschodni ślad.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 2, 2025
Jan Grabiec, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, provided further details, explaining that the attack involved an attempt to gain control over the computers of party employees and election staff.
The Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, wrote on X: “The state services are working intensively in connection with the cybersecurity incident concerning [Civic Platform] PO.
The matter is serious, and we will provide all the details on an ongoing basis.”
While authorities have not explicitly named a culprit, referencing an “eastern trace” could suggest suspicions of Russian involvement.
European nations have accused Russia of interfering in their electoral processes, with Moscow being blamed for meddling in the presidential elections held in Moldova and Romania last year.
In December, Romania’s Constitutional Court voided a presidential ballot in which the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu had earned a surprising victory amid suspicions that Russia had instigated a fake viral social media campaign to swing the vote in his favor.
Poland’s presidential vote, scheduled for May 18, is crucial for Tusk’s government as it has had to “cohabit” with PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda since it took office in December 2023.
The two frontrunners in the race are Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, from Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition, and PiS-backed independent candidate Karol Nawrocki, who heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a state body tasked with documenting crimes against the Polish people.
According to polls, Trzaskowski is the favorite to win, though his support has weakened slightly in recent months.
The Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, wrote on X: “The state services are working intensively in connection with the cybersecurity incident concerning [Civic Platform] PO.
The matter is serious, and we will provide all the details on an ongoing basis.”
While authorities have not explicitly named a culprit, referencing an “eastern trace” could suggest suspicions of Russian involvement.
European nations have accused Russia of interfering in their electoral processes, with Moscow being blamed for meddling in the presidential elections held in Moldova and Romania last year.
In December, Romania’s Constitutional Court voided a presidential ballot in which the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu had earned a surprising victory amid suspicions that Russia had instigated a fake viral social media campaign to swing the vote in his favor.
Poland’s presidential vote, scheduled for May 18, is crucial for Tusk’s government as it has had to “cohabit” with PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda since it took office in December 2023.
The two frontrunners in the race are Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, from Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition, and PiS-backed independent candidate Karol Nawrocki, who heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a state body tasked with documenting crimes against the Polish people.
According to polls, Trzaskowski is the favorite to win, though his support has weakened slightly in recent months.
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