In an unexpected move, Polish President Andrzej Duda has sparked controversy by speaking at a campaign rally for Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the opposition Conservatives (PiS), despite having previously declared he would stay neutral in the presidential race. His appearance in Łódź on April 27 raised eyebrows, particularly since he had earlier pledged not to support any candidate.
During his speech, Duda delivered a strong warning, suggesting that the current centre-left government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, might try to annul the upcoming election if its candidate loses. He raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process under Tusk’s leadership, claiming that the government was undermining the validity of the elections by refusing to recognize the Supreme Court’s Supervisory Chamber, which is tasked with certifying election results.
Duda didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Tusk government. He pointed to actions such as the forced takeover of public media and the removal of public prosecutors, painting a picture of a government flouting the rule of law. “It’s a tragedy for our country,” Duda said, referring to what he saw as illegal actions that were going unchecked.
Turning his attention to the PiS government’s record, Duda defended its tenure, claiming it fulfilled the promises he made to Polish voters in 2015. “I recently had to pull out my notes to list all the achievements of the PiS government,” he said, emphasizing the benefits the party had delivered for the people.
He also voiced his concern over the uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court, suggesting that the Tusk government’s refusal to recognize key court rulings was laying the groundwork for a potential challenge to the election results. “If their candidate loses, they may try to annul the election,” he warned. Duda urged for a large voter turnout and a clear victory to prevent any attempts to disrupt the democratic process.
Tensions have been running high ahead of the presidential election, which is set for May 18, with a potential runoff on June 1. Recent polls show a narrowing gap between Nawrocki of PiS and Rafał Trzaskowski of Tusk’s Civic Coalition, with the margin shrinking from 14 percent to just 4 percent in April.
Duda’s decision to back Nawrocki is seen as a move that could signal his intentions for the future. Reports suggest that Duda may be eyeing a position as prime minister in a right-wing government after his presidential term ends in August. His rally speech indicates that he’s not ready to step away from Polish politics just yet, and his backing of Nawrocki aligns with his long-term political ambitions.
