Following speculation about his potential candidacy for Mayor of Krakow, former Polish President Andrzej Duda has expressed intense irritation, signaling a broader struggle to find relevance after his second term.
The Krakow Rumor
As reported by Onet, Andrzej Duda was reportedly angered when his name appeared on the shortlist of potential candidates to replace the recalled Mayor of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski. The former president dismissed the suggestion as insulting and explicitly stated he was not considering such a move.
PiS politicians have reacted with amusement to the speculation. One source noted that when Duda heard he could be Miszalski’s successor, the reaction in Krakow was described as “a thud of dropping hands.”
The Burden of Nawrocki’s Victory
Duda’s reaction highlights a growing frustration with his post-presidency status. Paradoxically, the election victory of Karol Nawrocki is viewed as a complication for the former president. While Duda supported Nawrocki, his win arguably left Duda feeling sidelined and unnecessary, whereas a Nawrocki loss would have left Duda as the only living two-term former president from the PiS camp.
Unlike Nawrocki, who builds his position through open conflict with the Tusk government, Duda’s tenure was largely defined by party loyalty to PiS. His ties to Jarosław Kaczyński have reportedly been severed, and his interest in the premiership has gained no traction at party headquarters on Nowogrodzka Street.
Post-Presidency Transitions
Andrzej Duda has since pivoted to the business and advisory sectors. He joined the supervisory board of ZEN.COM, a fintech firm often dubbed the “Polish Revolut,” which holds licenses in the EU, the UK, and Singapore. Additionally, he has established an advisory firm, promoted his autobiography titled “To ja,” and engaged as a guest speaker at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.
In September, Duda launched a series on Kanał Zero, where he discussed his presidency and current events. The project, which was intended to run for 16 episodes between September and December, failed to gain significant popularity.