Speculation about the tension between Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk continues to circulate. Onet reporters Andrzej Stankiewicz and Dominika Długosz recently described the uneasy dynamic between the two politicians. They suggested that the relationship is strained and that there is little warmth or harmony between them. There is no chemistry between them, they observed, and their public appearances have rarely conveyed a sense of unity.
There is no chemistry between them
In the program State of Exception, Stankiewicz and Długosz discussed a video posted by the Civic Platform chairman on TikTok featuring the Warsaw mayor. In the clip, the two officials talk and finally shake hands. A caption reads: If they ask if Rafał and I will stand against PiS, we are already coming for them. Yet the footage also reveals signs of impatience in Tusk’s posture. The exchange has become a focal point for observers who question the cohesion of the party alliance.
Several media outlets aligned with opposition or critique of the ruling coalition have noted the potential fragility of the partnership between Tusk and Trzaskowski.
Relations grew tense, and public commentary reflected a sense of awkwardness. The two men were described as not particularly liking each other, with a notable absence of chemistry. Yet these rumors did not stop further joint appearances that aimed to project a sense of collaboration.
According to Stankiewicz, the friction has intensified.
Trzaskowski, who has not shown a clear appetite for the prime minister’s role, reportedly preferred to keep his path toward the presidency visible. He joined a campaign effort that signaled unity, while emphasizing that his personal regard for a premiership candidate remained limited. The collaboration was meant to convey a united front, though the two politicians reportedly harassed each other in the process.
The publicist suggested the dynamics are perceived differently by supporters tied to Trzaskowski and to Tusk. For Trzaskowski’s camp, the mayor of Warsaw presented an independent stance, not bowing to the center’s authority. He remained aligned with Tusk in the public eye while continuing to assert his own political terms. The side aligned with Tusk suggested that Trzaskowski temporarily acknowledged leadership and signaled loyalty, but questions linger about how long this posture would last and whether it was a tactical move or something more enduring.
Dominika Długosz reflected that if Tusk asked him to run for president in 2025, Trzaskowski would likely accept. If Tusk required him to serve as Commissioner in the European Union after elections, he would take that role. If a second term as Warsaw mayor was needed, Trzaskowski would continue in that position. The one constant, in her view, is that the arrangement would be shaped by Tusk’s guidance in the near term.
The question then becomes whether Trzaskowski will continue to build an independent political footprint. Długosz noted the emergence of a local government group called Yes for Poland and pointed to polling signals that suggest new alignments.
Stankiewicz added that the relationship remains fragile. Rumors about a swap between Tusk and Trzaskowski have fueled a sense that the partnership could unravel at any moment. They attended a recent meeting together, but observers wondered whether Trzaskowski might plot anew in a future week.
This is not the first instance where Trzaskowski has sought greater autonomy. A notable moment occurred at Campus Polska Przyszłości in September, when the Warsaw mayor delivered an extended speech just before a planned address by the Civic Platform leader, while Donald Tusk had to remain still on stage.
The question of a joint electoral list remains contentious, with some observers noting difficulties in achieving consensus even within one’s own party. This has not gone unnoticed by media commentators who have not always been favorable to the governing coalition.
Source discussions have circulated about leadership within the opposition and the viability of a unified front. The overall view is that both politicians are navigating a fragile alliance, with strategic moves weighing on the balance between independence and loyalty.
Source materials and ongoing coverage of the topic continue to shape opinions about which leaders will ultimately set the tone for the opposition in the coming months. The evolving dynamic between Trzaskowski and Tusk remains a central thread in political analysis across Canadian and American audiences seeking insight into Polish politics.