Two prominent candidates for the upcoming presidential elections, Karol Nawrocki and Rafał Trzaskowski, are set to make simultaneous appearances at the European Congress of Local Governments taking place on March 3-4 in Mikołajki, Poland. This event is expected to draw significant attention as both candidates are predicted to face off against each other in the second round of the elections.
The event, organized by the Eastern Studies Institute Foundation alongside local authorities such as the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and the municipality of Mikołajki, invites multiple candidates to engage with attendees. Five leading candidates have been invited, including Nawrocki, representing the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), Trzaskowski, backed by the Civic Coalition (KO), Magdalena Biejat of the Left, Sławomir Mentzen from the Confederation, and Szymon Hołownia of the Third Way.
According to Paweł Piszczek, the event's promotional office director, only Biejat has officially confirmed her participation so far. He also mentioned, “We have invited the top five candidates based on surveys,” which indicates high stakes for the attendees and their supporters.
Reportedly, Trzaskowski and Nawrocki will be attending the congress, where their participation marks the first encounter between the candidates, stirring curiosity about how they will address each other's policy stances. A PiS lawmaker involved with Nawrocki's visit commented, “Nawrocki is not timid; he’s eager to converse with Trzaskowski. He won’t mind being among those who support Trzaskowski.” Mikołajki’s local politicians from the opposition confirmed Trzaskowski’s appearance, emphasizing its importance. “Rafał Trzaskowski is local government; he cannot miss this event,” stated a regional PO politician.
While there is much anticipation surrounding their meeting, the format of the event poses some restrictions on their direct interaction. Piszczek explained, “Organizers are not planning any debate among the presidential candidates. Each one will have half an hour on stage with interviews conducted by journalists. If any of the invited candidates wish to listen to another’s remarks, they may do so, but I question whether they will have the time to.” Despite the formalities, it’s clear the presence of both candidates aims at promoting visibility among potential voters.
Following the congress, it is reported Nawrocki will travel to Ełk for meetings with local residents, showcasing his commitment to grassroots engagement. Social media outlets have also announced this visit, indicating his active campaigning strategy.
The European Congress of Local Governments is described as “a platform for exchanging views and meeting leaders from local governments, regional elites, and members of the state administration, NGOs, and business.” This year’s congress is characterized by its extensive program, featuring over 250 events such as discussion panels, workshops, and presentations focusing on contemporary urban issues, development mechanisms, investment funding, city management, environmental conservation, healthcare policy, and actions by local governments.
Among the key speakers announced for this year’s congress are various notable figures including Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak, state secretaries from several ministries including Climate and Environment – Urszula Zielińska, Agriculture and Rural Development – Stefan Krajewski, and National Education – Henryk Kiepura, along with former Prime Minister Leszek Miller and former Commander of the Land Forces Waldemar Skrzypczak.