Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s largest opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), announced that Przemysław Czarnek will be the party’s candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This declaration was made during a party convention in Kraków on March 7.
The announcement took place at the Sokol gymnastic society, a venue previously used to introduce presidential candidates Andrzej Duda and Karol Nawrocki in 2015 and 2025. Czarnek, a 48-year-old politician and lawyer, has served as the Minister of Education and Science from 2020 to 2023 under Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. He is also a lecturer at the Catholic University of Lublin and has been a member of the Polish parliament since 2019, previously holding the position of head of the Lublin Voivodeship from 2015 to 2019.
In his speech, Czarnek pledged to do everything possible to defeat current Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who leads the Civic Platform party. He emphasized Poland’s potential as a partner for all nations, particularly in supporting Ukraine, as demonstrated during the PiS government from 2016 to 2023. Czarnek stated that ongoing assistance to Ukraine is crucial to prevent Russian encroachment into Poland, while also asserting that Poland should demand respect from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian government.
Czarnek remarked, “Thanks to Poland and the PiS government, Ukraine is still alive — and may it live on.” He clarified that assistance would continue only if the Ukrainian authorities act as partners rather than displaying audacity, referencing issues surrounding the blocking of exhumations in Volhynia.
“We will help in this matter. But we will assist if we have a partner in the Ukrainian authorities, not audacity,” Czarnek stated.
In response to Czarnek’s nomination, Prime Minister Tusk reacted on social media platform X, noting, “So, three Confederations are now against us. There is no need to fear, but they should not be underestimated. One thing is certain: Poland is in for a fierce battle in 2027.”
According to a recent poll by United Surveys for Wirtualna Polska, if elections were held this Sunday, 30.6% of respondents would support the Civic Coalition, while PiS would receive 23.5%. The Confederation would garner 12.2%, with Grzegorz Braun’s Confederation of the Crown of Poland at 8.4% and the Left party at 7.7%.
Jarosław Kaczyński has announced Przemysław Czarnek as the Law and Justice party's candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming elections. Czarnek, a former education minister, aims to challenge current Prime Minister Donald Tusk while emphasizing Poland's role in supporting Ukraine.
Source: Polskie Radio