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Polish opposition leader says he won’t seek reelection as party chief

03.01.2020 12:45
Grzegorz Schetyna, leader of Poland’s largest opposition group, the centrist Civic Platform, announced on Friday he would not seek reelection as party chief.
Grzegorz Schetyna speaks at a news conference in Warsaw on Friday. Photo: PAPTomasz Gzell
Grzegorz Schetyna speaks at a news conference in Warsaw on Friday. Photo: PAP/Tomasz GzellPhoto: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

The economically liberal Civic Platform (PO), which was in power from 2007 to 2015, is expected to select its new leader in a vote later this month.

Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw on Friday, Schetyna supported lawmaker and former defence minister Tomasz Siemoniak for the role.

Tomasz Siemoniak. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell Tomasz Siemoniak. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

Meanwhile, Borys Budka, head of the Civic Platform’s parliamentary caucus, also announced a bid for party chief at a separate press conference in Warsaw, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Borys Budka. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka Borys Budka. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Schetyna, a political heavyweight and former senior government official, has been leading the Civic Platform since 2016.

His successor will face the challenge of reviving the party’s fortunes after a series of electoral setbacks.

The party, which is battling to narrow the gap to the country's ruling conservatives, last month picked deputy parliamentary Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska as its candidate for this year's presidential race.

(gs)

Source: IAR