Recently, talk about right‑wing primaries to choose a presidential candidate was raised by Krzysztof Bosak. A supporter of cooperation with the Confederation spoke in Bydgoszcz, outlining why, in the current climate, the idea might not be advisable. PiS MP Łukasz Schreiber shared a series of arguments on Platform X, presenting a critique of right‑wing primaries.
First, there is the issue of time. There is not enough of it, and there are many hurdles to clear. Who would be eligible to vote, and how would eligibility be verified across different parties? Second, even if there were a shared candidate, it would require broader agreement, including the parliamentary club and the general election process. Third, which electoral committee would back such a candidate? If the candidate ran under a party banner, why pursue primaries at all? If they ran as an independent, there would be concerns about who would fund the campaign.
– Schreiber argued.
Fourth, it remains uncertain whether every faction within the Confederation would endorse the idea and participate in the campaign. Fifth, from an electoral perspective, the plan carries doubts. A viable candidate would likely need to secure a relatively small field of competitors, and the overall vote share might struggle to surpass the mid‑range threshold. Sixth, Poland’s presidential system tends to produce a first‑round result dominated by a right‑of‑center candidate, with the second round historically pitting that bloc against the liberal left, aside from one notable exception in 2000.
– the PiS figure emphasized.
Schreiber: He envisions a pact to back the right‑wing candidate in the second round
Seventh, what proves advantageous in the United States may not translate to Poland. There is no second round abroad to mirror, and financially supporting candidates there operates under different norms. The American political calendar includes simultaneous congressional elections, and there is often a vice‑presidential slot that could unify parties after tough primaries, something seen in earlier eras such as the Reagan era. In Poland, those patterns do not exist in the same way, which affects strategic calculations.
– he added.
The PiS member noted that there did not appear to be a clear advantage in organizing primaries on the right side of the political spectrum.
In summary, the potential benefits were not evident to him. However, there are numerous objections and critical media voices ready to challenge the idea. Yet does the concept have any merit after all? He suggested a possible framework that resembles a joint commitment to support the candidate advancing to the second round. This could be complemented by a public debate among conservative candidates who share a defined set of core values.
– he wrote.
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