During the debate on Wednesday evening, incumbent Andrzej Duda and 10 rivals fielded a variety of questions from an anchor, while also trading jabs over topics such as social policy, migration, gay rights and the response to the coronavirus.
The 80-minute debate was aired by state broadcaster TVP.
Poland’s presidential election is scheduled for Sunday, June 28.
If none of the 11 candidates wins more than 50 percent the vote, under Polish election rules a second round will be held two weeks later, on July 12.
Under a set of rules approved by parliament and signed into law earlier this month, the election will be conducted via a mixed system of postal and traditional in-person voting.
Conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda, who has been president since 2015, is seeking re-election and appears to be the front-runner in the race.
Duda’s rivals in the presidential race include middle-of-the-road politician Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, leader of the rural-based Polish People’s Party (PSL); leftist Robert Biedroń; far-right hopeful Krzysztof Bosak; and celebrity journalist Szymon Hołownia.
Poland's main opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), in mid-May chose Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski as its new pick for head of state to replace deputy parliamentary Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.
The Polish presidential vote was originally scheduled for May 10, but failed to go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(gs/pk)
Source: TVP
