Kopacz vs. Szydło pre-election debate announced
PR dla Zagranicy
Alicja Baczyńska
08.10.2015 11:50
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, leader of ruling Civic Platform (PO), and her key challenger, Beata Szydło, from opposition Law and Justice (PIS), are gearing up for a faceoff on 18 October.
Beata Szydło (L) and PM Ewa Kopacz (R) are set to meet on 18 October. Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński/Radek Pietruszka
The prime minister hopefuls are to take part in a one-on-one confrontation to be televised by three media outlets TVP, TVN and Polsat. The duel was set up by the head of state broadcaster TVP, Janusz Daszczyński, with the support of the National Broadcasting Council.
Earlier, Kopacz urged the head of the largest opposition party to take up the gauntlet. "We have been observing the actions of [PIS leader] Jarosław Kaczyński and we have no doubt as to who the head of Law and Justice is and who would take the post of head of government," Kopacz told journalists on Monday.
"If I continue to govern over the next four years, there will be no one steering me from the backseat," she added. Her party maintains that the selection of Beata Szydło for prime minister candidate is a means of detracting attention from Kaczyński, a polarising figure in Polish politics, and swaying the more moderate constituents.
The showdown between the two top contenders in the upcoming general elections will be followed by a debate by eight groupings vying for parliamentary seats: Civic Platform, Law and Justice, Polish Peoples' Party, the Together party, KORWiN, the United Left, Kukiz'15 and Nowoczesna.pl (Modern.pl).
The general elections are to be held on 25 October. (aba/rk)
Source: IAR