During the debate on Wednesday evening, incumbent Andrzej Duda and nine rivals fielded a variety of questions from an anchor, while also trading jabs over topics such as foreign policy, the economy, military and energy security, European affairs and gay rights.
The 70-minute debate was aired by state broadcaster TVP.
Poland’s presidential elections, which had been due to take place on May 10 amid a coronavirus epidemic, will be held at a later date by postal ballot, the heads of two parties in the country’s ruling coalition said late on Wednesday.
In a major re-election campaign speech, Polish President Andrzej Duda last week summed up his first five years in office and outlined his second-term vision for Poland.
Duda’s contenders in the presidential race include centrist Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska; 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 presidential elections had been due to take place on May 10, with a potential second round scheduled for May 24, following an announcement earlier this year by lower house Speaker Elżbieta Witek.
Witek is now expected to announce a new date for the vote.
The head of the National Electoral Commission (PKW), Sylwester Marciniak, said on Tuesday that the presidential election could not be held on May 10 “for legal and organisational reasons.”
(gs/pk)
Source: TVP