Presidential elections 2025. Political scientist on “the first step that Rafał Trzaskowski's team should avoid”

Dr. Hab. talked about next year's presidential elections and the campaign before them in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24. Sławomir Sowiński, political scientist from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University and associated with the Foundation. Stefan Batory, political scientist Dr. Anna Materska-Sosnowska from the University of Warsaw.

The experts commented, among other things, on the victory of the mayor of Warsaw and the deputy head of PO Rafał Trzaskowski with the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski in the primaries in the Civic Coalition.

Materska-Sosnowska assessed that the primaries “achieved their goal.” – First of all, there was talk about it – she pointed out, drawing attention to the large reach of information about them on social media.

She pointed out that thanks to the primaries, “other problems, other slogans, other attitudes entered the election topics.” – It caused competition, it was a match between friends, but I think it is absolutely necessary – said the political scientist.

Sowiński assessed that “what turned out to be Radosław Sikorski's biggest problem was his greatest advantage.” – Because his advantage in this campaign was the dynamics, passion, political fantasy with which he entered the campaign. I think that some of the Platform's politicians were simply scared that if the president was like that, if he too escaped the Platform's control a bit, then this is not what we want. I think this ultimately determined this result and not another one, he said.

The political scientist was asked how dangerous an opponent the president could be for Rafał Trzaskowski Institute of National Remembrance Karol Nawrockiif he becomes the candidate of Law and Justice. As the host of the program, Anita Werner, noted, Nawrocki would start with little recognition.

– Exactly with the same recognition as he was little recognized Andrzej Duda in 2014 – replied Sowiński. – I remember exactly the same tone when they said: how is it even possible, it is almost a scandal, to be opposite such a serious politician as Bronisław Komorowskito field Andrzej Duda, who is unknown to anyone, he recalled.

– Today I heard similar tones: how is it even possible? PIS opposite Rafał Trzaskowski, a European and world politician, he put someone completely unknown – the expert continued.

As he assessed, “this is the first step that led to Bronisław Komorowski's defeat and this is the first step that Rafał Trzaskowski's team should avoid today.”

Materska-Sosnowska emphasized that the “iron rule” is: “never underestimate your opponent.”

At the same time, she assessed that “Nawrocki's situation is really bad.” – Because it's not like he is the natural leader of PiS – she pointed out. In her opinion, if he were to become a candidate, “he would have a lot, so to speak, of interests to sort out first.” – Including how to approach the Confederates and how to fight them – she said.

When asked whether she thought the PiS president had not sorted out these matters for Nawrocki, she replied that “even if”, he, Nawrocki, would still have to “redeem his position in some way”. – Just yesterday, I heard statements from some Law and Justice politicians who questioned such a nomination – she added.

– I would also consider one thing: freshness is always an advantage in such campaigns and the candidate of Law and Justice can count on this. Because we always want someone new, as we see after the previous elections and how such newcomers behaved, she added.