Although a general election is still around nine months away in Poland, the ruling Civic Platform is already planning who will be standing as its candidates, with many big hitting ministers seeking election or re-election.

Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski said on Monday that he would be standing in elections, which Civic Platform wants to hold in October. Rostowski, who has no seat in parliament at present, has not said which constituency he intends to stand, however.

Civic Platform’s national council meets today to discuss the electoral lists, with as many as 11 ministers set to stand before the electorate.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk will be seeking election in Warsaw, in what is planned to be a straight fight with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Law and Justice, the main opposition party.

According to the PAP news agency, Speaker of the lower house of parliament (Sejm) Grzegorz Schetyna will fight for a seat in Legnica, Health Minister Ewa Kopacz in Radom and Infrastructure Minister Cezary Grabarczyk in Lodz.

It is uncertain whether Justice Minister Krzysztof Kwiatkowski will be seeking election in either lower or upper house of parliament.

One of the key constituencies up for grabs is believed to be Krakow, where Defence Minister Bogdan Klich could stand. (pg)