In a well-planned move Polish centrists chose Rafal Trzaskowski as their next-years presidential hope; the 52-year old Warsaw mayor won the party vote against Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski
The current president Andrzej Duda (who supports ex-ruling PiS party) has been a road-block for Prime Minister Donald Tusks reform plans since last fall‚ especially those needed for EU justice standards. Its important to note that around 22k party members took part in this decision-making process
I am convinced that we will emerge from these primaries strengthened‚ and I have a very strong mandate and a lot of energy‚ determination and courage to win against PiS
The centrists plan looks clear - they want to fix the eight-year long changes made by PiS in Polandʼs courts; which Brussels says dont match democratic standards. The reform-minded Trzaskowski (who leads Polandʼs biggest city) might help get more young-voter support
The conservative PiS group will show its candidate tomorrow: this sets up an interesting match-up between two very different views on Polandʼs future