Campaigning begins for presidential elections in Poland

Victory is important for the ruling Civic Coalition, as their legislative proposals would then no longer be blocked by a president, Andrzej Duda, who is in line with the opposition Law and Justice party.

And according to the latest Opinii24 poll for RMF FM, it is their candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, the current mayor of Warsaw, who has the best chance of winning.

But he is closely followed by Law and Justice (PiS)-backed Karol Nawrocki, who is currently the president of the Institute of National Remembrance.

In third place is Slawomir Menzen of the far right Confederation party, which describes itself as national and patriotic. But the fiercest competition is expected to be between the two favourites.

Trzaskowski lost by a hair’s breadth to Andrzej Duda in 2020, with each receiving more than 10 million votes. Only Lech Wałęsa received more votes in Polish history.

Eleven candidates will compete in the first round: Rafał Trzaskowski (Civic Coalition), Karol Nawrocki (supported by Law and Justice), Szymon Holownia (Trzecia Droga), Magdalena Biejat (New Left), Sławomir Mentzen (Konfederacja), Marek Jakubiak (Wolni Republikanie), Marek Woch (Bezpartyjni Samorządowcy), Romuald Starosielec (Ruch Naprawy Polski), Piotr Szumlewicz (Związekkowa Alternatywa), Adrian Zandberg (Razem) and Katarzyna Cichos (Platforma Rozwoju Polski).

If the Poles do not elect a president in the first round, the second round will be held on 1 June.

The President of Poland is elected by universal suffrage, direct and equal, by secret ballot, for a five-year term, and may hold office a maximum of two times.