President Lech Kaczynski has said he respects the decision by Prime Minister Donald Tusk not to stand in this year’s presidential election.

Asked, while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Thursday, why he thought Tusk had chosen not to stand, he said: “I respect his decision, that‘s all I know […] Questions about motives are for the prime minister.”

Though yet to declare his hand, Donald Tusk, or another Civic Platform candidate, would be President Kaczynski’s main obstacle to getting re-elected in a ballot, probably in September this year.

Tusk explained his decision by pointing out that the real power in Poland is with the government and the presidential role is more ceremonial. Observers also point out that Tusk has been pushing for a change in the constitution, which would weaken the already limited powers of the president. Prime ministers have more power.

On a target date for dropping the zloty and adopting the euro - Prime Minister Tusk will probably announce a new date Friday - President Kaczynski questioned whether it was “realistic” to name 2015 as the goal, the date which he thought might be in the announcement by Tusk and finance minister Jacek Rostowski. The euro-currency-sceptic President recalled that the government had previously - before the global finance crisis bit - proposed 2011-12 as a target, “which has proved to be unrealistic”.

Kaczynski also met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Slovenia Danilo Tuerkiem. He invited the gas and oil rich Azerbaijan head of state to a visit to Poland, possible in the middle of this year. (pg)

Sources: IAR/PAP