Midnight marked the end of the presidential primary elections for the ruling Civic Platform (PO) party.
The electorate of the Civic Platform’s 46,000 membership voted via post and internet for one of its two candidates for the presidential race - Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and lower house of parliament Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski.
According to preliminary, unofficial results, presented this morning by one of the nation’s private radio stations, Speaker Komorowski will receive the party’s official nomination.
Both politicians held a debate live on TV, Sunday at midday. The debate, held at the Warsaw University Library, lasted around 50 minutes and took place without the participation of the general public. The candidates, after an initial five minute statement, answered seven questions each, on domestic and foreign policy.
Speaker Komorowski has already been officially endorsed by Deputy Speaker Stefan Niesiolowski, Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski and Health Minister Ewa Kopacz, as well as by two deputy heads of the party’s parliamentary club. Thirty six female parliamentarians from Civic Platform have also submitted letters of support.
The head of diplomacy Sikorski has the support of Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski, party members Jaroslaw Gowin and Andrzej Biernat, as well as Civic Platform's members of European Parliament, Slawomir Nitras, Krzysztof Lisek and Boguslaw Sonik.
The official results of the presidential primaries are to be announced by the Warsaw mayor and Civic Platform politician Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz during the session of the party’s Main Council on Saturday.
Poland’s presidential elections will be held in the fall. (di/mmj)