Only a week ago, the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), chose to support an independent presidential candidate, Karol Nawrocki. Public (or government-controlled) media describe 41-year-old Nawrocki as a politically inexperienced candidate. Yet, his popularity is quickly rising not just on the political right but also, most importantly, among independents, and he is already in the lead. This can only be compared to Donald Trump's rise in popularity in 2016 and 2024.
Nawrocki never held a government post. He entered the public eye in Poland in 2017 when he was appointed director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk.
In July 2021, the Polish parliament appointed Nawrocki president of the Institute of National Remembrance. The institute was set up in 1998 to investigate crimes committed in Poland from 1917 to 1990, spanning both the Nazi and Soviet eras.
He is the author and editor of several books on contemporary Polish history.
He is also wanted by the Russian Federation on criminal charges due to his role in the removal of monuments commemorating the presence of the Red Army on Polish territory. All of them were erected during Russian domination of the Polish People’s Republic to honor the Soviet forces’ role in the war and Poland's post-war "independence."
This morning, the Law and Justice's Political Council unanimously approved Karol Nawrocki's candidacy for president. This means PiS will not have its own candidate and will support Nawrocki. The unanimous decision was announced on X/Twitter.
Politicians of the largest opposition party emphasize that the presidential candidate announced last Sunday is non-partisan, although supported by their party.
Watching Mr. Nawrocki's campaign will be interesting as he has already ruffled some feathers among the governing coalition.
- Based on reporting by Dorzeczy(.)pl, Niezalezna(.)pl, Wpolityce(.)pl and TVPWorld(.)com
