PiS proposes joint right-wing candidate for Kraków presidential election, but Confederation already has its own

The proposal

During a meeting with residents in Gdańsk, Law and Justice (PiS) vice-president Przemysław Czarnek issued a direct appeal to Confederation leaders Krzysztof Bosak and Sławomir Mentzen. Speaking on behalf of PiS and in coordination with party chairman Jarosław Kaczyński and general secretary Piotr Milowański, Czarnek called for a joint right-wing candidate for the Kraków mayoralty.

Krzysiu, Sławku, we don't have to agree on everything. It's enough that we agree on what matters most — Poland deserves more than Donald Tusk's rule. When the right is together, Tusk loses.

Czarnek argued that only a united right-wing candidate could win in Kraków and "restore order" there. He suggested the candidate should ideally come from outside party structures, though he added that this was open to negotiation.

Confederation's response

Confederation has not issued an official statement, but signals suggest little enthusiasm. On the same day, Confederation's preferred candidate Bartosz Bocheńczak officially launched his campaign in Kraków, flanked by Bosak and Mentzen themselves. Marcin Łasiński, head of the Toruń district of the New Hope party, responded sarcastically, suggesting PiS should instead back Confederation's "truly right-wing candidate" who worked hard to recall the previous mayor.

A wonderful idea. PiS slept through the entire referendum, but now has a chance for revenge and to support a truly right-wing candidate who worked hard to recall Miszalski.

Czarnek's proposal also notably omitted Grzegorz Braun, another right-wing figure who placed second in a SW Research poll for "Wprost" on the Kraków presidency.

The recall referendum

Kraków mayor Aleksander Miszalski of Civic Coalition (KO) was recalled in a referendum on 24 May. Turnout reached 29.99%, exceeding the required threshold of 26.98%. Over 171,000 voters supported the recall, while only 3,631 opposed it. A simultaneous referendum to recall the city council failed to meet its higher threshold of 30.59%.

That's life. I thank President Miszalski for what he did. That's democracy. Sometimes you make misguided decisions, sometimes unpopular ones.

Prime Minister Tusk appointed Stanisław Kracik, Miszalski's deputy and a former Małopolska voivode, as commissioner to run the city until a new mayor is elected. Kracik has stated he will not run in the election but will support a candidate.

The political landscape

Snap elections must be held within 90 days. Potential candidates include Łukasz Gibała, Miszalski's 2024 runoff rival who helped fund the referendum campaign; Ireneusz Raś, a popular Kraków politician mentioned by analyst Mikołaj Wójcik as a strong KO candidate; and Bartosz Bocheńczak for Confederation. Former president Andrzej Duda's name has also surfaced in speculation.

Broader implications

Czarnek framed the Kraków recall as the start of a wider wave against Tusk's government. At a rally on Kraków's main square, he declared it "the beginning of a great wave that will sweep through Poland and end with the recall of Tusk himself." However, analysts note that PiS faces an uphill battle: the party's brand remains toxic in many major cities, and the coalition that ousted Miszalski was broad, uniting PiS, Confederation, and local activists around shared antipathy toward the central government rather than a unified right-wing program.