Late Polish President’s Twin Brother Eyes Presidency

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of Poland’s late president, declared his candidacy on Monday for a presidential election in mid June.

But political analysts say the cards are stacked against the combative nationalist.

Despite an upsurge of sympathy for the Kaczynski family, opinion polls show Acting President Bronislaw Komorowski of the centrist Civic Platform as the most likely election winner.

And Lech Kaczynski, elected president in 2005, was not expected to beat out Komorowski in a second term.

Former prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski heads Poland’s main opposition party, the right-wing, eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS).

In a public statement recently, Jaroslaw said: “ Poland is our great shared obligation. We are required to overcome our personal pain and to take on this mission despite the personal tragedy. That’s why I have taken the decision to run for the presidency of Poland.”

Many Poles see him as a divisive figure whose spell as premier in 2006-7 put a strain on Poland’s relations with Germany, Russia and the EU.

And media reports say he has yet to tell his ailing 83-year-old mother of Lech’s death.

Law and Justice presidential campaign committee member, Adam Hoffman, voices his support for Jaroslaw.

[Adam Hoffman, Presidential Campaign Committee Member, PiS Party]:

“…Apart from the fact that Jaroslaw Kaczynski is the president of the party and the leader of a large section of our politics, he is also a human being. In this human aspect he was very touched by this tragedy. He had to answer the question of whether to run in the elections or not, and elections are tough. So he answered and we have a very strong and obvious candidate, the leader of Law and Justice.“

[Malgosia, Warsaw Resident]:

„Apparently he finds it appropriate. I think I will vote for him because I support PiS (Law and Justice) if they have decided that he is the best candidate from the party I accept this.“

[Jerzy, Warsaw Resident]:

„In my opinion Law and Justice have only one option, this candidate and in our nation this myth is growing and thanks to this myth Jaroslaw Kaczynski will try to win.“

The Kaczynski twins were senior members of the pro-democracy Solidarity trade union that toppled communism in 1989.

The union no longer has significant political clout but on Monday its leader, Janusz Sniadek, publicly backed Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s presidential bid.

Foto: NTDTV