On March 8, voting began for leadership positions in Poland’s Citizens’ Coalition, with Donald Tusk running unopposed for party chair.
Election Process Begins
On Sunday, March 8 at 10 AM, voting began for leaders of district, regional structures, and chairman of the Citizens’ Coalition. Voting in KO district and regional offices will continue until 6 PM, with only activists from Greater Poland voting for an hour longer.
This is the first leadership election for the Citizens’ Coalition, which was formed in October of last year through the merger of the Civic Platform, Nowoczesna, and the Polish Initiative.
Tusk Confident Despite No Opposition
“If someone is afraid of something, they’d better stay out of politics, because today it’s an exceptionally tough game, not only in Poland, so there can be no talk of fears or anxieties,” said Donald Tusk, the only candidate for chairman of KO. “It’s crucial that a very solid team stands behind the leader. We’ll manage, I don’t feel fear.”
Most Regional Leaders Face No Competition
10 current regional structure leaders of the Civic Platform who are participating in the KO elections have no competitors. However, in some voivodeships including Lower Silesia, Lubusz, Subcarpathian, and Greater Poland, several politicians are running.
Results Expected Monday Morning
“Ballot boxes, committees, and trusted persons are prepared. After voting ends, we will have protocols to count. I think we should have results by night, and on Monday morning we will hold a conference and announce them,” said Dorota Niedziela, Marshal of the Sejm and KO’s election commissioner. “We are probably one of the few parties where elections from the lowest to the highest level are universal.”