Jarosław Kaczyński revealed he considered Bogucki as a prime ministerial candidate but ultimately settled on Przemysław Czarnek, citing a lack of agreement with President Nawrocki.
Kaczyński Initially Backed Czarnek for Prime Minister
On March 7th, Jarosław Kaczyński announced that Przemysław Czarnek would be the PiS party’s candidate for prime minister if they win next year’s parliamentary elections. He emphasized the need for PiS to win despite the current challenging situation in Poland.
Kaczyński stated he was “deeply convinced” that Professor Czarnek was the right person for the role.
Bogucki as a Potential Candidate
During a discussion on April 1st on television channel Polska24, Kaczyński indicated that Bogucki’s candidacy was also considered. The condition for Bogucki’s nomination was his continued role as Head of the Presidential Chancellery.
Kaczyński explained that Bogucki could simultaneously serve as Head of the Chancellery and a prime ministerial candidate, provided it was clear he was President Nawrocki’s candidate. However, an agreement could not be reached.
Alliances and Presidential Influence
Kaczyński noted that even allies don’t always agree on every matter. He dismissed concerns that a prime ministerial candidacy would overburden Bogucki, a key figure in President Nawrocki’s administration, stating that a government led by President Nawrocki doesn’t currently exist.
Kaczyński believes the best scenario for the president is a government originating from his own party or political camp, with whom he can communicate and exert influence.
Morawiecki’s Candidacy Deemed Unviable
Kaczyński also mentioned that Mateusz Morawiecki, the current vice-president of PiS, was considered as a candidate, acknowledging his contributions. However, he argued that Morawiecki is unpopular with the party’s right-wing electorate, making his candidacy “unacceptable.”
Shifting Electoral Focus
Kaczyński admitted that PiS has been losing voters to the Confederation party, particularly among right-leaning voters. He explained that during the presidential elections, a segment of the population with right-wing views didn’t associate the party with the president, leading to a decline in PiS’s poll numbers.
He stated that the decision to nominate Czarnek was a response to this trend and appears to be working.
Support for Czarnek and Future Roles for Morawiecki
Following Czarnek’s nomination, Morawiecki pledged his support. When asked if he would like to serve as deputy prime minister in a Czarnek-led government, he responded, “not necessarily.”
Kaczyński suggested that if PiS wins the elections and Czarnek becomes prime minister, Morawiecki could rationally lead economic affairs within the government.