Duda attends election convention of PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki
Polish President Andrzej Duda was a special guest at the election convention of Karol Nawrocki, the presidential candidate supported by the socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) on Sunday, saying the event was especially significant to him.
"I've arrived because this is an extraordinarily important moment to me," Duda said on Sunday. "I, Andrzej Duda, who has the same right to participate in the elections and vote as you do, will vote for Karol Nawrocki in these elections because I believe he is a person who would... do everything to make Poland a fair country, to make it strong on the international arena, who would build Euro-Atlantic relations, and who would be a wise politician."
The president urged others to follow his choice, saying that 10 million people would need to cast their ballots for Nawrocki.
In his speech, Duda lashed out at Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government for what the politician sees as an alleged attempt to mute the Polish media and reshape the National Prosecutor's Office. He sais he sees these and other moves as jeopardising the legitimacy of the forthcoming elections.
"You must mobilise the way you did in 2015 and in 2020 (the years of Duda's victorious presidential races - PAP)," the leader said, addressing Nawrocki's and PiS' supporters.
According to Duda, Poland needs a serious and responsible head of state who understands the nature of Polish interests and would build the country based on fairness.
Aside from political support, Nawrocki needs financial backing, Duda said, claiming that the politician was unjustly deprived of the funds needed to push his campaign, while PiS is unable to offer support for the same reasons.
"Go and show support, we have to win, the free and fair Poland must win! Long live Poland!" Duda said.
Nawrocki is one of many presidential candidates, whose chances, according to recent polls, are high to enter a potential runoff and ultimately win. His main rivals are Warsaw Mayor and centrist Civic Coalition frontrunner Rafal Trzaskowski and Slawomir Mentzen, representing the far-right Confederation party. (PAP)
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