Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, the Polish opposition’s candidate for prime minister in the country’s recent parliamentary election, has said that she is willing to run in next year’s presidential election.
Speaking to Polish weekly Wprost, Mrs Kidawa-Błońska said that Poles were ready for a female president. However, she has not yet made it clear if she intends to be the presidential candidate of the opposition Civic Coalition.
“We should form a presidential pact committing all pro-democratic groups to supporting one candidate in the second round of the presidential elections,” she told Wprost in an earlier interview, adding that the president “must rise above partisan divisions and be open to dialogue with all sides.”
While the former candidate for PM stands ready for a presidential bid, it remains uncertain if she will be the opposition’s candidate. Former Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, who will soon complete his second term as the head of the European Council, is still considering his options regarding a presidential bid.
The Polish media has reported that while Mrs Kidawa-Błońska currently enjoys the support of Grzegorz Schetyna, the leader of the Civic Coalition, the party is unlikely to turn its back on Mr Tusk should he decide to run.
Mr Tusk is widely expected to be confirmed next month as the leader of the European People’s Party. In principle, his new job would not prevent him from being engaged in domestic politics.
Mr Schetyna meanwhile faces a leadership challenge from former justice minister Borys Budka.
[…] a woman running for the presidency in a country where men have long dominated politics. Despite her claims that “Poland is ready for a female president,” her gender is undoubtedly going to play against […]