Poland’s largest opposition grouping, Civic Coalition (KO), has put forward Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska as its candidate for prime minister ahead of a general scheduled for October 13. Ms Kidawa-Błońska has been deputy marshall of the Sejm, Poland’s parliament, since November 2015, and analysts believe that she represents a fresh face for a party that desperately needs rebranding.
Under current leader Grzegorz Schetyna, the KO is currently polling at around 31 per cent, significantly behind the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), which has around 47 per cent of the electorate’s support. KO was formed in March of last year following the merger of the Civic Platform and Modern parties. The party currently holds 157 (of 460) seats in the lower house of parliament, and 26 (of 100) in the senate.
Mr Schetyna told tvn24.pl that Poland needs a leader like Ms Kidawa-Błońska, someone who, according to him, will restore accountability, honour and respect to Polish political discourse. “We need someone who would think about ordinary people and ordinary problems,” He said. “Someone who won’t waste time on political fighting, but would work hard. Someone who won’t be focused on other politicians but on human stories.”
A native of Warsaw, Ms Kidawa-Błońska will head KO’s list of candidates in the capital.
“Poles want politicians who would understand them as people, their dreams, needs, desires. They want politicians who would see the whole spectrum of their achievements, not only their ID number,” she said
While PiS are favourites to take a clear victory in the election, Mr Schetyna said that KO was not losing hope. “We must win this election,” he said, “there is no other option.”
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