Poland’s main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), has officially nominated Przemysław Czarnek as its candidate for prime minister ahead of the 2027 parliamentary
elections. The announcement was made during a party convention on Saturday in Kraków, southern Poland.
Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński introduced Czarnek as the figure best suited to lead the party back to power, emphasizing the need for a leader capable of unifying the party’s base and coordinating its activities.
"The person who leads the effort to win the election must be someone capable of integrating all the party’s actions," Kaczyński said at the event.
The convention took place at the historic headquarters of the Polish Gymnastic Society 'Sokół', a site previously used by PiS to present presidential candidates, including Andrzej Duda and Karol Nawrocki.
Czarnek, 48, is a lawyer, academic, and long-time PiS member. He currently lectures at the Catholic University of Lublin and has been a member of Poland’s parliament since 2019. In June 2025, he was elected one of PiS’s deputy leaders.
Before his parliamentary career, Czarnek served as governor of the Lublin region. He also held the position of Minister of Education and Science from 2020 to 2023 under former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
The announcement quickly drew a reaction from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, leader of the governing Civic Coalition. Tusk suggested on the X social media platform that Czarnek’s nomination signals a strengthening of right-wing forces opposing his government.
Polling ahead of the 2027 election indicates a competitive political landscape. A recent United Surveys poll conducted by IBRiS for Wirtualna Polska shows the Civic Coalition leading with 30.6% support, while PiS stands at 23.5%.
Other parties also show notable backing: the far-right Confederation at 12.2%, Grzegorz Braun’s Confederation of the Polish Crown at 8.4%, and The Left at 7.7%.
With Przemysław Czarnek now at the forefront, the stage is set for a high-stakes election campaign in Poland, as both governing and opposition forces gear up for the 2027 parliamentary vote. Photo by Ministerstwo Rodziny i Polityki Społecznej, Wikimedia commons.