Would-be candidate for president, Radoslaw Sikorski says that Poland should not go down the American or French route, constitutionally, and argues that the head of state should be a partner of elected governments, not their rival.

“A president should not compete with a government; [he or she] should not act as the third house of parliament, a government-in-exile or a supreme power. Instead, a head of state should cooperate with and represent the democratically elected government and exercise powers granted by the constitution,” said  Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Campaigning for who will represent Civic Platform in this year’s presidential elections in Poland has heated up this week with Sikorski and opponent for the nomination Bronislaw Komorowski making many media appearances to try and gain favour with Civic Platform members.

Sikorski’s remarks about how much power the president in Poland should have were only slightly veiled barbs against the presidency of Lech Kaczynski, who has used his veto and position to scupper many government bills and has tried to operate a rival foreign policy against the wishes of the ruling coalition.

On 26 March, Civic Platform MPs will choose the party’s candidate for the head of state.

Meanwhile, the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna  newspaper carries a new poll which suggests gaining support for Bronislaw Komorowski, who has the support of 38.3 percent support and would beat incumbent Lech Kaczynski by a wide margin than Foreign Minister Sikorski. Kaczynski is currently trailing both of them with between 19 to 21 percent, depending who his opponent would be. (pg/mg)