The Chief Council of the junior member of the ruling coalition, the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) is meeting this weekend with the aim of selecting its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.

The most certain candidate is its leader Waldemar Pawlak with party members stressing his political experience. Pawlak held the job of the country’s PM twice, is currently the deputy PM and economy minister with an excellent knowledge of both domestic and foreign policy, they claim.

Waldemar Pawlak himself says there is no need to make the decision in a hurry and adds that it should be taken within a month's time. The decision of the democratic party in the US was made in July and the elections took place in October so there is not question of delaying anything in time here. On the other hand, there is no pressure for all the things have to be decided immediately. We will have our annual convention at the end of April, beginning of May and I am sure we will present our decision by then.

PM Donald Tusk expressed his conviction that Pawlak's candidacy will not have a negative influence on the work of the government. He also added his lack of surprise that the PSL chief was considering running for the office.

Waldemar Pawlak had his first run for the office in 1995. He received 4,3 percent of the votes. (di)