Active, tough and courageous
During a recent interview, Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a figure often mentioned as a possible Civic Coalition candidate, described eight years of relentless pressure from the Law and Justice campaign. He recalled taking part in some of the toughest contests of the past decade and underscored that staying calm is a mark of strength. He argued that real toughness does not hinge on aggressive rhetoric. “For eight years, Law and Justice threw me against the walls. I have participated in the most difficult campaigns of the past decade. I just stay calm. Toughness does not mean that someone uses very harsh rhetoric”, he asserted.
Trzaskowski continues shaping his public narrative as a target of a political push by Law and Justice, presenting himself as someone who has weathered intense pressure while advocating for a broader coalition and a steadier tone in politics.
Election campaign
In a recent appearance, the Warsaw mayor addressed comments from a rival in the primaries, Radosław Sikorski, who urged the president to be active, tough and courageous. Trzaskowski responded by framing his approach as measured and principled, choosing to emphasize resilience over confrontation.
As a sign of his resilience, he cited his ability to withstand criticism from the Law and Justice camp, arguing that patience and composure are essential traits for leadership. He made it clear that his stance is not about polite silence but about maintaining focus under pressure.
He also challenged the notion that his toughness requires loudness, guiding the conversation toward the value of consistent performance and calm, even in the heat of political campaigns, a point he reinforced through references to how voters respond to steady leadership.
Trzaskowski did not shy away from discussing public opinion either. He noted that prior polls show him ahead of the foreign minister, a situation that includes the conservative segment of the electorate, which in theory might be expected to favor his opponent. The takeaway, he suggested, is that voters respond to competence and steadiness, not just rhetoric.
Earlier, Szymon Hołownia, who chairs the campaign committees within the Civic Coalition, signaled that the election campaign would officially begin on January 8. Trzaskowski, however, indicated that if he is chosen as the Civic Coalition candidate, the campaign would start earlier, on December 7, during the inauguration in Gliwice. “If I were elected, we would start the campaign in Gliwice on December 7. Of course I’m ready. I’ve actually been ready for it since 2020”, he said.
Nevertheless, observers noted that Trzaskowski had already been campaigning for weeks, undertaking a tour across Poland even before the Civic Coalition primaries were officially announced. The rapid pace of his travel raised questions about the financing of these events and who is backing the early initiatives, a point that has drawn scrutiny amid a crowded political landscape.
The unfolding events have sparked discussion about campaign organization and fundraising, with commentators urging transparency and clarity about funding sources as the political season moves forward. The dynamics set by these early moves have the look of a high-stakes contest as parties prepare for the next phase of Poland’s presidential and parliamentary conversations.