Poland’s right-wing ruling party endorsed president Andrzej Duda’s reelection in the 10 May presidential vote.
The party’s Political Council met in Warsaw just before Duda launched his re-election campaign. Its leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski called Duda their “dream candidate” and a guardian of Poland’s Constitution.
Law and Justice has been facing criticism for its populist policies ever since it came to power in 2015. Duda, a former member of the party, has backed its policies. The party has been known for its EU skepticism.
Recently, Law and Justice has angered the bloc by approving the controversial law to tighten controls over judges, despite warnings that the law is an infringement of EU treaties. Duda backed the changes, which the party said were designed to fight corruption in the judicial system. However, it was accused of politicizing the judiciary. The move sparked nationwide protests.
Duda is being challenged by deputy parliament speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska from the main opposition Civic Platform party, and other opposition candidates, including Krzysztof Bosak for the far-right Confederation party. According to surveys, Duda is currently ranked as the country’s most popular politician.
Poland's right-wing ruling party supports president's reelection
EPA-EFE/Radek Pietruszka POLAND OUT
President of Poland Andrzej Duda speaks during the press conference in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, 25 September 2017. President Duda presented his draft legislation to reform the Supreme Court (SN) and the National Council of Judiciary (KRS). In July 2017, Duda vetoed Supreme Court and National Judiciary Council bills voted by the Polish Sejm's majority. Large protests have been held across Poland over rules passed 20 July by the ruling party that would limit the independence of the judiciary.
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