Speculation heats up around Poland’s presidential race and the Institute of National Remembrance chief
A patriotic circle has floated the possibility that Karol Nawrocki, president of the Institute of National Remembrance, could be a candidate to serve Poland in another role. Nawrocki told PAP that he would be ready if his country asks him to contribute in a different capacity, though he emphasized his current commitment to the Institute.
With presidential elections slated for next spring, Mr. Nawrocki is one of the names that have come up in media and political discourse as the party coalition known as PiS considers its nominee. The selection process is described as being led by the party chairman, Jarosław Kaczyński, through a team that weighs potential candidates.
Several headlines have framed Nawrocki as a potential contender, alongside other prominent figures. The list of possibilities includes former Prime Minister and PiS vice-president Mateusz Morawiecki, PiS club head Mariusz Błaszczak, MEP Patryk Jaki, former education minister Przemysław Czarnek, former voivode Zbigniew Bogucki who currently serves as PiS MP, and Tobiasz Bocheński, an MEP and former PiS presidential hopeful for Warsaw. Some sources suggest Bogucki and Nawrocki could have the strongest chances for nomination.
Raising questions about the candidacy
Newsrooms asked Nawrocki to comment on the swirling speculation about his possible ascent to Poland’s highest office. He answered that two decades into his public service, his focus remains on serving the Republic. He noted that he does not belong to any political party and has never been a member of one in the past.
He spoke candidly about his sense of duty, saying that if the political climate decides he should serve the country in another role, he would be prepared to do so. However, he underscored that his current responsibilities at the Institute of National Remembrance are his primary vocation, and he does not expect a change in his official duties simply due to speculation.
In his own words, he described himself as a committed defender of the Republic, a stance he has maintained for twenty years. He cautioned that what the future holds is not for him alone to decide and stressed that his path remains tied to the Institute of National Remembrance.
Earlier reports from PAP indicated that the official announcement of PiS’s presidential candidate was anticipated in the latter half of October through the first half of November. Nawrocki’s status as a potential nominee remains a topic of ongoing discussion as the process moves forward.
Karol Nawrocki holds a PhD in history from the University of Gdańsk and is recognized as a social activist with expertise in human resources management. In 2017 he took the helm of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, and in 2021 the Sejm, with Senate consent, appointed him president of the Institute of National Remembrance. The discussion around his name continues to circulate in policy circles and national media.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce