Voting is expected to be postponed until June.
Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed hope that the presidential election will be held in the republic as soon as possible. He said this at a briefing on Thursday, commenting on the decision of the ruling party in Poland “Law and Justice” not to hold a vote scheduled for May 10 in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am pleased with the agreement”, – he said. – “I hope that the presidential election will be held as soon as possible and that the presidential election will be held in a way that is safe for all of us”, – Duda added, stressing that the decision on the new voting date should be made by the speaker of the Sejm (lower house of parliament). The election is expected to be postponed to June.”
On Wednesday, Law and Justice leader Yaroslav Kaczynski, as well as his coalition partner, the leader of the political association “Agreement” Yaroslav Govin, informed that they have found a solution that “guarantees the opportunity for Poles to participate in democratic elections.
“After the expiration of the term of May 10, 2020 and the alleged recognition of the elections as invalid by the Supreme Court due to the fact that they were not held, the speaker of the Sejm (lower house of parliament) of Poland will announce new presidential elections in the first possible term”, – they explained. According to Kaczynski and Gowin, the elections will be held remotely – by mail – in the face of the new coronavirus epidemic.
This decision was made in a situation when the State Election Commission, due to plans to organize voting by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic, did not prepare everything necessary for the traditional elections, and work on the law on postal expression of will was delayed.
The election of the President of Poland was held every five years. Duda is running for a second term. There are nine other candidates among his competitors. However, the incumbent president is confidently leading in opinion polls.