Poland 2050, a member of the governing coalition, faces internal challenges after former leader Szymon Hołownia stepped down, with some MPs leaving or considering other options.
Petru, a former leader of the liberal Nowoczesna (Modern) party and now an MP for Poland 2050, told supporters in Warsaw that stepping into the role after party founder Hołownia would be "a difficult task," but insisted the movement’s long-term, pro-European mission remained unchanged.
The lawmaker said his track record of building Nowoczesna "from scratch" into a party that won almost 8 percent of the vote in 2015 showed he could strengthen Poland 2050 ahead of future elections.
But analysts note that Nowoczesna – despite a strong start – quickly lost momentum and was eventually dissolved this year.
Petru said Poland was facing a rising tide of populist narratives across the political spectrum.
"We cannot leave the economy in the hands of right-wing and left-wing populists, nor the economic illiterates of the Confederation," he said.
He criticised claims from conservative politicians that the EU threatens Polish sovereignty, calling such arguments "a blatant lie" propagated by President Karol Nawrocki, the Law and Justice (PiS) party, the far-right Confederation and other right-wing groups.
Petru pledged that, if elected leader, Poland 2050 would push harder within the coalition for its flagship policies, including lower health-insurance contributions for entrepreneurs, state-funded sick pay from the first day of illness and the return of two trading Sundays per month.
He also said his party would push to strip state-owned companies of political influence
At Sunday's event, Petru also sought to shut down speculation that Poland 2050 might consider cooperation with the right.
"I will definitively end media speculation about any dealings with PiS," he said.
Among his policy proposals were tax-free supplementary earnings for pensioners of up to PLN 5,000 per month, a clearer migration framework and opposition to any referendum on abortion.
Petru founded Nowoczesna in 2015, led it into parliament the same year, lost the leadership in 2017 and left the party the following year.
He returned in 2022 as an economic adviser and won a parliamentary seat in 2023 on the Third Way list.
(ał)
Source: PAP