Bronislaw Komorowski

After Prime Minister Tusk’s decision not to run in the presidential election, his party Civic Platform will have to choose an alternative candidate. But who are the contenders? 

According to a survey conducted yesterday by the pollster Gfk Polonia one in five Poles would support Wlodziemierz Cimoszewic as Civic Platform’s candidate in the presidential election even though the ex-foreign minister is not even e member of the party.

Speaker of the lower of house of parliament Bronislaw Komorowski would gain 18 percent of votes, Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament, 16 percent and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (right) 15 percent.  

Jerzy Buzek, however, has no intention to abandon the poast he won only last summer and settle down in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz has already said that he will not take part in the presidential race. However, several weeks ago Cimoszewicz – a former member of the Democratic Left Alliance said that he might run in the election if there was a serious threat that the incumbent President Lech Kaczynski was reelected. Some believe that Donald Tusk’s decision not to run has enhanced Lech Kaczynski’s chance to become president again, and it may make Cimoszewicz change his mind.  

The daily Gazeta Wyborcza claims that the Prime Minister has already decided who should replace him and the choice is between Komorowski and Sikorski. A poll conducted by PBS DGA shows that Komorowski would win in the first round with 27 percent of votes. Lech Kaczynski would gain 14 percent of votes and Andrzej Olechowski 13 percent.

Although the polls are quite clear as to who has the chance to win the presidential race with the support of the ruling Civic Platform, the situation may still change because, according to a a survey by SMG/KRC, every fourth Pole does not know what Civic Platform candidate they would prefer. (mg) 

Related story:

Tusk not running in 2010 presidential election , thenews.pl 28.01.2010