The Civic Coalition held primary elections on Friday, the results are to be announced on Saturday. PiS, in turn, is scheduled to announce its candidate on Sunday. If the president's favorite were to be the president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Karol Nawrocki, what determined his choice?
On the morning of November 22, Przemysław Czarnek argued that his candidacy had not been lost and that Czarnek's name was still being taken into account. – We are waiting for the decision of the Law and Justice leadership and for the announcement of the candidate on Sunday – said the Law and Justice MP. According to him, there is no decision yet and he remains “in the game”.
According to unofficial information, the favorite to be PiS's presidential candidate is Karol Nawrocki, not a politician or former minister in the Law and Justice government – which was said to be of key importance in the decision – but a person from outside the party.
– This is indeed a candidate who has a great chance of getting nominated – admitted Przemysław Czarnek.
The facts are that since November 21, the event has been organized and will take place on Sunday, November 24. The MPs received messages inviting them to Krakow. Party activists and supporters were informed about the possibility of participating in the convention.
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The party's spokesman confirmed that a “civic meeting” would be held on November 24, during which the decision regarding the non-partisan presidential candidate would be announced.
– The non-partisan candidate will receive the support of Law and Justice, but we will announce who it will be in two days – said Radosław Fogiel, Law and Justice MP. The event is organized by PiS and the president of PiS will participate in it.
– Such a person is a bit of a second-line person, not participating on a daily basis in such front-line political disputes, and this is what at least some voters expect from the president, that he is not such a front-line politician, but someone a bit next to him, someone a bit above. So I think it would be a bit better – said Marcin Horała, an MP from Law and Justice.
Czarnek's problems, voices of opposition to Nawrocki's candidacy
Our unofficial conversations with PiS politicians show that the decisive factors against Przemysław Czarnek's candidacy were: a high negative electorate and the internal situation in the party. Some PiS leaders were afraid of Czarnek's strengthening of his political position and the increase in his popularity after many months of the campaign.
Karol Nawrocki is a safe option for Kaczyński, because regardless of the election results, it will not strengthen any of the factions and will not deepen divisions in the party.
Two, three or four? Conflicting information regarding PiS candidatesJakub Sobieniowski/Fakty TVN
Some Law and Justice MPs also voiced opinions that Karol Nawrocki had no experience in running a campaign, that he would be less effective in mobilizing the PiS electorate, and that such a decision was a vote of no confidence in some PiS leaders.
Karol Nawrocki has so far avoided answering questions about specific views – for example on the law on civil partnerships.
– Poles do not expect the president of the Institute of National Remembrance what he thinks about abortion, civil partnerships or energy security – said Karol Nawrocki, president of the Institute of National Remembrance.
Karol Nawrocki claims that when he officially becomes a candidate, he will present his opinions on all these topics.
Main photo source: Tomasz Gzell/PAP