Poland's prime minister said Thursday that his government is aiming for June 28 as the date of a presidential election that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The election, in which conservative President Andrzej Duda is vying for reelection against nine other candidates, was originally set for May 10.
It was postponed four days before it was due to take place amid coronavirus restrictions and political infighting over how and when to hold the vote. The ruling coalition had pushed for an all-postal vote, but the necessary legislation was not ready.
FILE - In this file photo taken Feb. 19, 2020, Poland's President Andrzej Duda, center, campaigning for his re-election in Warsaw, Poland. The Polish government’s determination to move forward with the May 10, presidential election during the coronavirus pandemic by making it an all-postal vote is creating anxiety and anger, and critics say the plan threatens public health and democracy in Poland.(AP PhotoCzarek Sokolowski)
The legislation currently being worked on in parliament would allow for the casting of ballots at voting stations and an optional postal vote.
Duda, whose term expires Aug. 6, is seeking reelection with the support of the ruling conservative Law and Justice party.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the government is planning to hold the election on June 28, saying it is the best date given the end of Duda's term on August 6.
New candidate in Poland's presidential election for the opposition Civic Coalition, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski talks to reporters, taking over from Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonka who quit amid sagging voter support, in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, May 15, 2020. The election scheduled for last Sunday was postponed at the last minute to a date that is still to be announced, amid political infighting over when and how to hold an election in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP PhotoCzarek Sokolowski)
If no candidate wins 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff will have to be held two weeks later.
“We want to fulfill our constitutional obligations and conduct these elections in accordance with the constitution, and today we plan to do it on June 28, Morawiecki said.
Duda is leading in recent polling. In second place is Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, with the centrist and pro-European Civic Platform party.
New candidate in Poland's presidential election for the opposition Civic Coalition, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski talks to reporters in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, May 15, 2020. Poland's main opposition party on Friday named Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski as its new candidate in the country's trouble-ridden presidential election. The previous candidate for the center-liberal Civic Platform party and its smaller partners, Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, quit the race earlier in the day because she lost almost all support when she called for a boycott of the election held amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP PhotoCzarek Sokolowski)
Trzaskowski only jumped into the race last week, replacing an earlier candidate, Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, who had dismal polling numbers after threatening to boycott the election she was running in when it looked as if the government would not postpone it.
Civic Platform was previously led by Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister and former European Union leader. It lost power after Tusk's departure from Polish politics.