Infighting within the largest opposition party could result in one of its most prominent politicians – Jan Rokita – not standing for a seat in the Lower House in Krakow. Jan Rokita’s name will not be on Civic Platform’s (PO) electoral roll in Krakow, if the current list of candidates for that party remain as they are, believes close friend, Senator Jaroslaw Gowin. At the same time, however, Gowin excludes the scenario whereby Rokita leaves PO.
In an interview with the Radio News Agency (IAR), Professor Gowin confirmed reports that Jan Rokita could refuse to run for a seat in the Parliament and instead try to become an independent senator.
Gowin said that Rokita does not like the composition of the electoral roll from Krakow drawn up by local PO activists.
The senator reported that Rokita told him that he “would not let his name be used to advertise the electoral roll in its present shape."
The composition of PO’s electoral lists is decided by the local, with the exception of top positions, which is in PO chairman Donald Tusk’s privilege.
Rokita thinks the current list is full of Tusk’s supporters and without any who are close to him.
The dispute goes back to the mayoral elections in Krakow last year when Rokita gave his support to a candidate from the ruling Law and Justice – much to the annoyance of his Civic Platform colleagues.
Jan Rokita was once tipped to be a future prime minister if Civic Platform ever came to power.