Belweder Palace

President Bronislaw Komorowski meets Prime Minister Donald Tusk this morning to discuss the date of Poland’s general election this year.

PM Tusk’s Civic Platform party is known to favour 23 October for the elections.

Press spokeswoman at the President’s Office Joanna Trzaska-Wieczorek told Polish Radio that the talks between head of state and head of government were just another stage in consultations on the timing of parliamentary elections.

“Bronislaw Komorowski will meet with Donald Tusk at the Belvedere Palace. On Thursday morning [the president] will begin consultations with chairmen of parliamentary parties,” said Trzaska-Wieczorek.

Besides the date of the election - which could fall in the middle of Poland’s six-month EU presidency - President Komorowski must decide whether to hold the ballot over two days and not a single day, as is normal in Poland.

“The President shall consult with groups working for increased participation in elections,” says presidential adviser Jan Lityński.

“The president wants to increase activity in public life, to increase efforts to create a Polish citizenship and the promotion of mutual trust. One of the tools [at his deposal] are two-day elections,” Lityński added. (pg)