KO Convention in Gliwice. Donald Tusk about Rafał Trzaskowski

On Saturday after 12 noon, the Civic Coalition convention began in Gliwice. Presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski is to present the most important topics of his election campaign, focused on, among others, around security and energy.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke first. – This is a historic moment, because once again, as has been the case several times over the last several decades, the fate of our homeland will be decided – he said. – We are here today to once again tell loudly and clearly to all Poles that the candidate in the Anno Domini 2025 presidential elections of the Civic Coalition is President Rafał Trzaskowski, Tusk said.

– I'm going to say something seriously now, unlike some who use the words I'm about to say as if they were some dark joke. Rafał Trzaskowski is an independent and civic candidate, announced the Prime Minister.

Tusk pointed out that “Trzaskowski won the support of thousands of people in tough, fair competition with a really, really good candidate, Radek Sikorski, thus emphasizing that already at the beginning of this path his mandate is much stronger than the choice of the leader or head of the party or some party institution.

He added that “Trzaskowski was the candidate who gained great support in the previous presidential elections.” – He is the most popular and highly trusted politician in Poland. He basically just had to say “yes” and we all knew he would be our candidate. And he said: no, let's really try to fight for every vote, for the opinion of every Polish woman, every Pole, from the very beginning. Mr. President, dear Rafał, you have our full support today – said Tusk.

The Prime Minister greeted Trzaskowski's wife, Małgorzata, from the stage, referring to his own wife, who is her namesake. – I promised my Gosia, Gosia from Sopot, to send Gosia from Warsaw, here in Gliwice, my warmest greetings – he said.

Tusk also conveyed “warm greetings” from – as he said – his “recent competitor” and today “toughest ally”, i.e. the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski, who is currently “fighting abroad for Polish interests.” – And so that these are not bare words, I would like to welcome Aleksander Sikorski, Sikorski junior, who led his father's campaign in these primaries, and today joined Trzaskowski's staff – he said.

The Prime Minister said that Rafał Trzaskowski “is our choice because for us the word security really means something.” The head of government also told a story about photos circulating on the Internet showing Trzaskowski supporting two heroines of the Warsaw Uprising. – He was leaning slightly over them, with unfeigned concern, and at the same time, photos of the opposing candidate, the one indicated by Kaczyński, the so-called independent candidate in a completely different company, circulated on the Internet – Tusk said.

– It is not my role to run some brutal campaign today. But my role, as Prime Minister, is to send a great warning to all of Poland today. Do we really want to have a president who, not by accident, was caught by photojournalists, but who takes photos with gangsters with great pride and satisfaction?

Tusk recalled that he was from Gdańsk and said that “few people know Gdańsk as well as I do.” – I know well, but you can also guess how long the list of those whom Nawrocki would like to pardon may be. We already have bad experience with PiS president Andrzej Duda when it comes to pardons, he warned.

Tusk said he was pardoned (by Duda – ed.) and a “pedophile and drug dealer.” – Imagine who will be on the PiS candidate's list for pardon – said the Prime Minister. Tusk announced that “Poland managed to protect the entire process of leaving communism, from influence, from direct contact between hard crime and the highest levels of power.” – There can be no return to the kind of risk that lurks behind the doors today. We were not the ones who invented this narrative, the story about Mr. Nawrocki's close companions. And in recent days, electrifying information has spread across Poland that among them, Mr. Nawrocki's companions, are also those whom the prosecutor's office suspects of links with the Russian services – said the Prime Minister.

– This is not our negative campaign, it is a great voice of warning – Tusk repeated. – Let's look for safe solutions for Poland. Let's look for a man who cares, has empathy, understands the weaker, and has tolerance, Tusk said.

– Let's not allow dangerous chaos to reign in Poland, war at the top, constant aggression and a very shady society around the possible president. This is crucial from the point of view of the future – added the Prime Minister.

Tusk also mentioned a “conversation among a group of friends”, where a question was asked whether they would leave their children or grandchildren to Rafał Trzaskowski. – The answer was: “yes, of course.” And Mr. Nawrocki? One of the people I asked looked at me and replied, Sir, I wouldn't leave the hamster in his care, Tusk said. – This is not about an authentic anecdote, it is about the essence of the matter – he emphasized.

The head of government stated that Poland needs a president who “understands his independent role and strong position, and at the same time knows how to cooperate with the government and citizens.” In his opinion, Trzaskowski is a person who “has it all in his blood.”

Saturday's convention is the first major event of the Civic Coalition since Trzaskowski officially became a presidential candidate, defeating his rival, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, in the primary elections.

More than an hour before the start of the convention, a demonstration was organized in front of the PreZero Arena Gliwice, in which trade unionists associated with the steel and mining industry took part. They demanded protection of jobs and investments in Polish industry. Several hundred people took part in the protest.

The chairman of NSZZ “Solidarność” in Huta Łabędy, Czesław Ryś, said that it was a demonstration in defense of jobs. He emphasized that this requires investments in Polish industry. – Our plant relies on mining, the situation of which is getting worse and worse. If we don't invest and get nothing in return, we will be thrown out of the market, he warned.

Adam Olejnik from the Federation of Lignite Mining Trade Unions emphasized that the demonstration did not have political slogans. – We have come to show, perhaps the future president of Poland, Rafał Trzaskowski, what problems our economy is struggling with. Polish steel is not in fashion today because it has a carbon footprint, and Chinese steel – with a much larger carbon footprint – sells hugely. It's similar with coal, he said. He added that trade unionists support pro-ecological solutions, but do not agree with their too quick implementation, which is harmful to the Polish economy.

Rafał Trzaskowski was selected as the KO candidate in the primary elections. He faced the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski. He obtained 74.75 percent. votes.

Officially, the election campaign for next year's presidential elections has not started yet, but as part of the so-called pre-campaign, candidates who announced their participation – including: Karol Nawrocki (non-partisan with the support of Law and Justice), Rafał Trzaskowski (KO), Szymon Hołownia (Trzecia Droga) and Sławomir Mentzen (Confederation) – are already visiting various parts of the country.

It is known that the elections will take place in May 2025. Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia will announce their date on January 8, and the formal order will take place on January 15, in accordance with the opinion of the National Electoral Commission