Radek Sikorski

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that his party has two candidates who could realistically win the presidential election this year - Bronislaw Komorowski and Radek Sikorski.

PM Tusk told TVP television last night that now he has finally decided not to run in the election this year then Civic Platform has two able candidates who could do the job - Speaker of the Sejm Komorowski and Foreign Minister Sikorski.

He stressed that there are still a few months to ascertain who would be the better candidate - Civic Platform are scheduled to officially announce their candidate in May, with the election probably in September.

Donald Tusk said that both candidates have different strengths that would enable them to win the election. He considers Komorowski “a more sedate, conservative politician” and Sikorski “younger, more global”.

Last Thursday PM Tusk finally put an end to the speculation and announced that he would not be running for president. He justified not standing - in an election opinion polls have him as a firm favourite to win - by arguing that the Civic Platform-led government needs stability and that he has more power as PM than he would as president. (pg)

Prominent Civic Platform politician Janusz Palikot told TVN 24 news, however, that if the selection of candidate was left up to the party management board then Komorowski pictured right) would get the nod.

“He is a very mature politician, who has held key posts. He has been strongly rooted in the party and was there from the beginning. Sikorski is less entrenched [in the party, being a member] for only two years. This will be inevitably influence the decision,” he said.

Palikot offered to lead Komorowski’s campaign if he did stand. (pg)