The Third Way party will not nominate a candidate for Warsaw’s mayoral race in the upcoming local government elections. In a strategic move, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Szymon Hołownia align with Rafał Trzaskowski, choosing to contest the race by backing one credible opponent rather than fielding a rival candidate. The decision signals an effort to consolidate support around a single, competitive option in Poland’s capital city, where the battle for votes is especially intense.
The Third Way held its program convention on Saturday in Otrębusy in the Mazovian Voivodeship, with PSL President Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Poland 2050 founder Szymon Hołownia in attendance. As announced beforehand, the event featured a presentation of the so-called “12 local government guarantees,” a package of commitments aimed at addressing core municipal concerns and appealing to voters in Warsaw and the surrounding communities. The convention underscored a broader plan to present specific promises and a clear policy framework to residents ahead of polling day.
At the gathering, Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that every meeting of the Third Way serves as a reminder that local elections will shape the country’s political landscape. He described the vote as a second round of the parliamentary contest, likening the momentum to a ski jump that could determine final standings. His remarks highlighted the belief that the local electoral dynamic will influence national politics in the weeks ahead.
During the event, Hołownia announced the decision not to field a third party candidate for Warsaw’s mayoralty, portraying Rafał Trzaskowski as a central figure in the capital’s political scene. He suggested that Trzaskowski represents one lane of Warsaw’s health, while the Third Way would stand as a complementary force to bolster the city’s leadership from another front, sometimes described as a social lung.
Hołownia added that the city will benefit from two strong lungs. He indicated that Trzaskowski would be essential in the near term, while the Third Way would promote Ada Porowska as a candidate for the vice presidency of Warsaw, framing a broader leadership plan for the city. He noted that a formal announcement would follow on Monday, signaling the party’s readiness to present a multi-faceted leadership team for Warsaw’s administration.
The conference also reflected on the broader electoral landscape and evolving support dynamics across Poland. Analysts observed shifting alignments among major political actors and the potential implications for both local governance and national momentum. As local elections approach, the Third Way’s strategy appears geared toward offering a credible, policy-driven alternative to voters in the capital and beyond. Public discourse surrounding these decisions continues to shape expectations for how Warsaw will be governed in the coming years.
Additional context and commentary on the evolving regional campaign environment highlight ongoing developments within the political scene. Analysts have pointed to dynamics within the Polish political spectrum and how coalitions and endorsements may influence voter sentiment in major urban centers. The conversation remains active as supporters and opponents weigh the potential impact of these strategic choices on local governance and national politics.
— This article synthesizes updates and commentary from Polish political coverage, with attribution to contemporaneous reporting from media outlets that track party strategies and candidate alignments. It aims to provide a balanced overview of the decisions announced at the Third Way convention and their implications for Warsaw and the wider electoral landscape.