Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, believes that he can defeat Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski for the Civic Coalition (KO) nomination for president, but according to an unofficial Onet report, Trzaskowski is the clear favorite, reports Do Rzeczy.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on social media yesterday that the nominee will not be him, with the final candidate to be announced on Dec. 7.
Polls conducted by KO expect the mayor as the winner in both the first and second rounds of voting, no matter what candidate opposition PiS runs.
Meanwhile, the Onet news portal reports that polls conducted by Sikorski have him believing he can snag the nomination.
The foreign minister definitely has his cheerleaders in the party. “Radek Sikorski’s people are euphoric. They believe he is rising as the ideal candidate for president in wartime,” one official told the portal.
“His media activity in recent times has been exceptional. He makes his presence known practically every day,” Onet adds.
“Here he is closing the Russian consulate, while Rafał is opening a tram to Wilanów,” another source says.
Supporters of the mayor of Warsaw, however, feel a catastrophe would have to happen for him not to run. Trzaskowski’s people were supposed to meet with Tusk earlier this week, but the outcome of these talks is unknown.
There has been continued speculation that Tusk himself would seek out the nomination, with some believing that the more he denies such ambitions, the more likely he is to run, which would undermine Trzaskowski , whose camp has been trying to get clarification on this from the prime minister.
Poland will hold its presidential election in May 2025.