Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday announced that a major event, originally planned for May 11 and billed as the Great Patriots’ March, would be moved to May 25—just a week before a possible presidential runoff.
Tusk's governing Civic Coalition (KO) hopes to unite support behind its candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, to strengthen his chances against any opponent advancing to the second round.
"The Great Patriots' March will take place on May 25, before the second round of elections," Tusk wrote on X. "This will allow for the full mobilisation of democratic patriots. All together now! Let's meet on Sunday, May 25, in Warsaw, at high noon."
Trzaskowski told reporters on Tuesday that he had consulted with Tusk about rescheduling the event, adding that holding the march between the two voting rounds would help "unite all democratic forces."
The announcement comes in response to an event planned for April 12 by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is backing historian Karol Nawrocki in the presidential race.
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński has called on "all patriots" to join a march marking "the 1,000th anniversary of the Kingdom of Poland and the 500th anniversary of the Prussian Homage"—both symbols, he said, of Poland’s sovereignty and national strength.
Tusk has framed the presidential election as a choice that will determine “whether Poland will be strong and safe, or lonely and weak."
Poland’s presidential election is scheduled for May 18, with a potential runoff on June 1 if no candidate wins an outright majority.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP