Jolanta Kwaśniewska, former First Lady of Poland, has urged citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential runoff on June 1, condemning disturbing allegations against one of the candidates.
Known for her charitable work with the “Porozumienie bez barier” Foundation, Kwaśniewska made the appeal during the opening of a seniors’ corner at a Warsaw social welfare home on Poland’s Mother’s Day.
Former Polish First Lady urges high voter turnout amid controversy over presidential candidate
Speaking to the media, she stressed the importance of high voter turnout and defended democratic participation.
Standing beside Małgorzata Trzaskowska - whose husband Rafał Trzaskowski is the pro-European Civic Coalition candidate - Kwaśniewska voiced concerns about their rival, Karol Nawrocki.
The right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) candidate faces accusations ranging from involvement in violent hooligan gang fights and alleged ties to criminal groups, to controversies over unpaid hotel stays linked to the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), the state historical body he leads.
The controversy intensified after Nawrocki was seen using banned smokeless tobacco products called snus during live TV debates.
Earlier, he facedbacklash over a housing scandal involving the acqusition of an apartment from an 80-year-old man who had been placed in a care home for seniors.
Additionally, Polish news outlet Onet.pl published reports accusing him of involvement in procuring prostitutes for guests at the Grand Hotel in Sopot.
Kwaśniewska says Nawrocki unfit to be president, wouldn’t want him even as a neighbour
Former Polish First Lady said she believed even the PiS party is uncertain about Nawrocki’s character.
“I wouldn’t want him as a neighbour, let alone as head of state,” Jolanta Kwaśniewska told TVN24.
Comparing him to the animated character Shrek, she said that with every new revelation - like peeling layers of an onion - more troubling facts come to light.
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Source: TVN24