2010 Polish presidential election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Poland
| type = presidential
| previous_election = 2005 Polish presidential election
| previous_year = 2005
| next_election = 2015 Polish presidential election
| next_year = 2015
| election_date = 20 June 2010 (first round)
4 July 2010 (second round)
| turnout = 54.92% (first round) {{increase}}5.20pp
55.30% (second round) {{increase}}4.32pp
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image = Bronisław Komorowski official photo (cropped).jpg|bSize = 133|cWidth = 130 |cHeight = 145|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0|Location=center}}
| nominee1 = Bronisław Komorowski
| party1 = Civic Platform
| popular_vote1 = 8,933,887
| percentage1 = 53.01%
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image = JKRUK_20090429_JAROSŁAW_KACZYŃSKI_PREMIER_PIS_IMG_6470.jpg|bSize = 235|cWidth = 130|cHeight = 145|oTop = 23|oLeft = 55|Location=centre}}
| nominee2 = Jarosław Kaczyński
| party2 = Law and Justice
| popular_vote2 = 7,919,134
| percentage2 = 46.99%
| map_image = Präsidentschaftswahl Polen 2010 Runde 2.svg
| map_caption = Second round results by powiat
| title = President
| before_election = Grzegorz Schetyna {{Small|(Acting)}}
| before_party = Civic Platform
| after_election = Bronisław Komorowski
| after_party = Civic Platform
}}{{Politics of Poland}}
Presidential elections were held in Poland on 20 June 2010. As no candidate received a majority of votes in the first round, a second round was held on 4 July 2010.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8633981.stm |title=Poland's snap presidential elections set for June 20 |work=BBC News |date=21 April 2010 |access-date=21 June 2010}} Bronisław Komorowski, the acting President of Poland and vice-chairman of the Civic Platform, defeated Jarosław Kaczyński, twin brother of recently deceased President Lech Kaczyński and chairman of Law and Justice (PiS). The 2008 financial crisis, flooding in Poland and the Smolensk disaster were the main themes in the last months of the election campaign.
As of 2025, this remains the last Polish presidential election won by a non PiS-aligned candidate and the only election won by a candidate from PO.
Background
The 2010 presidential election was expected to be a rematch of the 2005 election between Lech Kaczyński and Donald Tusk. Since the last presidential election, Polish politics had become centered around the rivalry between Law and Justice and the Civic Platform. President Kaczyński and Prime Minister Tusk were constantly battling each other over who should represent Poland on the international stage.{{Cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/political/26658|title = Spats over who gets to go to EU summit break out in Poland, Finland| date=29 August 2008 }} Tusk was leading Kaczyński in all the opinion polling (as he did in 2005 before he ultimately lost) and the election was expected to be a dirty one. However, this rematch never came to be. Donald Tusk announced in January 2010 that he will not run for President because he wants to remain Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=http://www.polishmarket.com.pl/document/:22912?p=%2FEconomic+Monitor%2F |title=Polish Market Online .:. Polish Market Online .:. What's next for Poland? |publisher=Polishmarket.com.pl |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=21 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005213515/http://www.polishmarket.com.pl/document/:22912?p=%2FEconomic+Monitor%2F |archive-date=5 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} Lech Kaczyński was set to declare his candidacy for re-election on 23 May but he died on 10 April in the Smolensk air disaster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/1,103087,7745826,Wybory_2010__Lech_Kaczynski_rozpocznie_kampanie_23.html|title=Wybory 2010. Lech Kaczyński rozpocznie kampanię 23 maja}}
After Donald Tusk declined to run for president, the Civic Platform organized a presidential primary. The primary was won by Bronisław Komorowski who defeated Radosław Sikorski receiving 68.5% of the vote to Sikorski's 31.5%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/komorowski-kandydatem-po-na-prezydenta-kleska-sikorskiego/2dwvxfn|title=Komorowski kandydatem PO na prezydenta. Klęska Sikorskiego|date=27 March 2010 }} Bronisław Komorowski consistently lead Lech Kaczyński by double digits in the first round and by a 2-to-1 margin in the second round. No other candidate registered support in the double digits.https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/polityka/artykul/sondaz;kaczynski;nie;ma;szans;na;reelekcje,22,0,603670.htm {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
After President Lech Kaczyński's death in a plane crash on 10 April 2010, the Constitution required the Marshal of the Sejm to declare the date within two weeks, with the election to take place on a weekend within the following 60 days, i.e. 20 June at the latest. On 21 April, the Marshal, Bronisław Komorowski, announced the election date as 20 June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-14/poland-may-hold-early-election-on-june-20-napieralski-says.html |title=Poland May Hold Election June 20, Napieralski Says (Update1) |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=14 April 2010 |access-date=21 June 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Candidates were required to register by 26 April 2010 (with 1,000 signatures of voters in support) and submit 100,000 signatures by 6 May 2010.{{cite news|last=Sobczyk |first=Marcin |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704133804575197321643319484?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines |title=Polish Election Set for June 20 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=21 April 2010 |access-date=21 June 2010}}
Originally, Kaczyński was up for re-election between 19 September and 3 October; the exact date would have been announced between 23 May and 23 June, before the end of his first five-year term of office.[http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm#5 Constitution of Poland], Article 128
Two candidates for the election died in the crash. Incumbent Lech Kaczyński was nominated as the Law and Justice party candidate (he had yet to accept the nomination, but it was widely believed that he would do so), and Jerzy Szmajdziński was to have run for the Democratic Left Alliance.{{cite web | title = Jerzy Szmajdziński – kandydat SLD na prezydenta | work = Gazeta Wyborcza | date = 20 December 2009 | url = http://wyborcza.pl/1,75478,7385246,Jerzy_Szmajdzinski___kandydat_SLD_na_prezydenta.html | access-date = 22 December 2009 |language=pl}} Jarosław Kaczyński ran for president as the replacement for his deceased twin brother.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-view/instant-view-jaroslaw-kaczynski-to-run-for-polish-presidency-idUSTRE63P1RR20100426|title=Instant view: Jaroslaw Kaczynski to run for Polish presidency|newspaper=Reuters|date=26 April 2010}} Jerzy Szmajdziński's replacement was Grzegorz Napieralski.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.pl/grzegorz-napieralski-kandydat-na-prezydenta-sld-wybory-2010/z22cefj|title = Grzegorz Napieralski| date=20 May 2010 }}
Senate by-elections to fill the three seats whose senators died in the crash – Krystyna Bochenek (PO), Janina Fetlińska (PiS) and Stanisław Zając (PiS, himself elected in a by-election on 22 June 2008 to replace Andrzej Mazurkiewicz) – were held on the same day.
Candidates
In total, 23 candidates registered with the Polish National Electoral Commission on, or just following, the 26 April deadline. 17 of the 23 candidacies were accepted by the commission, whilst the remaining 6 were rejected because they had not gathered the required 1000 signatures.
Only ten candidates collected the required 100,000 signatures and were eligible to run for president.{{cite web|author=jagor, zsz |url=http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Wiadomosci/1,80271,7851073,Wybory_2010__Dziewieciu_kandydatom_na_prezydenta_udalo.html |title=Wybory 2010. Dziesięciu kandydatom na prezydenta udało się zebrać 100 tys. podpisów |publisher=Wiadomosci.gazeta.pl |access-date=21 June 2010|language=pl}}
File:M. Jurek.jpg|Former Marshal of the Sejm Marek Jurek (Right of the Republic), 49
File:Jarosław Kaczyński 2007 002 (cropped2).jpg|Former Prime Minister and Party Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński (Law and Justice), 60
File:Bronisław Komorowski official cropped.jpg|Marshal of the Sejm and Acting President Bronisław Komorowski (Civic Platform), 58
File:Janusz Korwin-Mikke Sejm 2015.JPG|Former Member of the Sejm Janusz Korwin-Mikke (Liberty and Lawfulness), 67
File:Andrzej Lepper 2007.png|Former Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper (Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland), 55
File:Kornel Morawiecki portrait 2010 (cropped).jpg|Founder and leader of Fighting Solidarity Kornel Morawiecki (Independent), 69
File:Napieralski.jpg|Party Chairman and Sejm Member Grzegorz Napieralski (Democratic Left Alliance), 36
File:Andrzej Olechowski candidate 2010(cropped).jpg|Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Olechowski (Independent), 62
File:Waldemar Pawlak candidate 2010 D crop.jpg|Former Prime Minister and current Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak (Polish People's Party), 50
File:Boguslaw Zietek candidate 2010.jpg|Chairman of Free Trade Union "August '80" Bogusław Ziętek (Polish Labour Party), 45
= Rejected candidates =
- Zdzisław Jankowski
- Gabriel Janowski – national-conservative, former Minister of Agriculture
- Dariusz Kosiur
- Bartłomiej Kurzeja – artist, self-described as "the National Sculptor"
- Krzysztof Mazurski – scientist, geographer
- Paweł Pietrzyk
- Roman Sklepowicz
- Paweł Soroka – political scientist
- Bogdan Szpryngiel – a former Libertas candidate to the European Parliament
- Ludwik Wasiak
- Józef Wójcik
- Waldemar Urbanowski
= Withdrawn =
- Ludwik Dorn – former Marshal of Sejm (Law and Justice), candidate of liberal-conservative party Poland Plus.{{cite web | title = Ludwik Dorn rezygnuje ze startu w wyborach | language = pl | work = Rzeczpospolita | date = 20 April 2010 | url = http://www.rp.pl/artykul/464305.html}}
- Tomasz Nałęcz – former Vice-Marshal of Sejm, candidate of Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl).{{cite web | title = Tomasz Nałęcz rezygnuje ze startu w wyborach| language = pl | publisher = polskieradio.pl | date = 20 April 2010 | url = http://www.polskieradio.pl/5/3/Artykul/199810,Tomasz-Nalecz-rezygnuje-ze-startu-w-wyborach}}
- Zdzisław Podkański – former member of the European Parliament (Polish People's Party), leader of the national-conservative party Piast.{{cite web|title=Rezygnacja kandydata. Poprze J. Kaczyńskiego? |language=pl |publisher=gazeta.pl |date=4 May 2010 |url=http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/2164891,11,rezygnacja_kandydata_poprze_j_kaczynskiego,item.html |access-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507145807/http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/2164891,11,rezygnacja_kandydata_poprze_j_kaczynskiego,item.html |archive-date=7 May 2010 }}
= Dead =
- Lech Kaczyński – President who applied to start for reelection. First candidate of Law and Justice.{{cite web | title = Prezydent Kaczyński nie żyje | language = pl | publisher = se.pl | date = 10 April 2010 | url = http://www.se.pl/wydarzenia/kraj/lech-kaczynski-nie-zyje-kto-zginal-lista-pasazerow_136006.html | access-date = 10 April 2010}}
- Jerzy Szmajdziński – former Minister of Defence, Vice-Marshal of Sejm. First candidate of Democratic Left Alliance.{{cite web | title = Jerzy Szmajdziński nie żyje | language = pl | publisher = wp.pl | date = 10 April 2010 | url = http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,Jerzy-Szmajdzinski-nie-zyje,wid,12158487,wiadomosc.html | access-date = 10 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100414014928/http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,Jerzy-Szmajdzinski-nie-zyje,wid,12158487,wiadomosc.html | archive-date = 14 April 2010 | url-status = dead }}
== Campaign ==
Bronisław Komorowski's campaign slogan was "Unity builds" (Zgoda buduje) and his strategy was to portray himself as an independent politician ready to work with everyone to fix the nation's problems. He pledged to work closely with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to adopt the euro in about five years, end the unpopular military mission in Afghanistan and promote pro-market reforms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-komorowski-leading-kaczynski-in-polish-election-2010jun20-story.html|title = Komorowski leading Kaczynski in Polish election|date = 20 June 2010}}
Jarosław Kaczyński's campaign slogan was "Poland is the most important" (Polska jest najważniejsza) and he aimed to soften his own image and present himself as someone ready for compromise. He praised his late twin brother's legacy and promised to continue his policies as President. He made it a priority to fight crime and corruption, scale back market reforms to preserve a strong welfare state and promote Roman Catholic values
Opinion polls
= First round =
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center; |
| rowspan=2| Date
! rowspan=2| Institute ! colspan=10| Candidate ! rowspan=2| Undecided ! rowspan=2| Source |
|---|
| width=30| Bronisław Komorowski
! width=30| Jarosław Kaczyński ! width=30| Grzegorz Napieralski ! width=30| Waldemar Pawlak ! width=30| Andrzej Olechowski ! width=30| Andrzej Lepper ! width=30| Janusz Korwin-Mikke ! width=30| Marek Jurek ! width=30| Kornel Morawiecki ! width=30| Bogusław Ziętek |
| 7 May 2010
| TNS OBOP | 50% | 36% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 10 May 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 45% | 34% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 12 May 2010
| GfK Polonia | 41% | 28% | 4% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| 14 May 2010
| TNS OBOP | 51% | 38% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 15 May 2010
| GfK Polonia | 48% | 30% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
| 15 May 2010
| Homo Homini | 42.2% | 35.9% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 2.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 1.9% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
| 17 May 2010
|{{nowrap|SMG/KRC Millward Brown}} | 49% | 29% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 7% |
| 22 May 2010
| GfK Polonia | 53% | 28% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 29 May 2010
| Homo Homini | 47.6% | 32.5% | 6.1% | 4.2% | 1.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5.6% |
| 31 May 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 46% | 30% | 9% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
| 2 June 2010
| PBS DGA | 48% | 33% | 8% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 4 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 42% | 31% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 15% |
| 5 June 2010
| Homo Homini | 46,5% | 32,4% | 6,1% | 4,4% | 2,2% | 0,6% | 0,4% | 0,4% | 0,1% | 0% | 6,4% |
| 7 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 43% | 32% | 8% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 5% |
| 9 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 45% | 31% | 7% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
| 12 June 2010
| GfK Polonia | 42% | 29% | 11% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
| 16 June 2010
| GfK Polonia | 48% | 34% | 9% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | – |
| 16 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 41% | 29% | 12% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| 17 June 2010
| TNS OBOP | 42% | 35% | 13% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | – |
| {{Nowrap|18 June 2010}}
| MillwardBrown SMG/KRC | 44% | 29% | 13% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
= Second round =
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center; |
| rowspan=2| Date
! rowspan=2| Institute ! colspan=2| Candidate ! rowspan=2| Undecided ! rowspan=2| Source |
|---|
| width=30| Bronisław Komorowski
! width=30| Jarosław Kaczyński |
| 7 May 2010
| TNS OBOP | 61% | 39% | – |
| 10 May 2010
| SMG/KRC | 54% | 41% | 5% |
| 12 May 2010
| GfK Polonia | 53% | 34% | 13% |
| 14 May 2010
| TNS OBOP | 55% | 39% | 6% |
| 17 May 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 58% | 33% | 9% |
| 2 June 2010
| PBS DGA | 64% | 36% | – |
| 4 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 56% | 35% | 9% |
| 9 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 54% | 36% | 7% |
| 16 June 2010
| SMG/KRC Millward Brown | 60% | 40% | – |
| 18 June 2010
| MillwardBrown SMG/KRC | 56% | 33% | 11% |
| 30 June – 1 July 2010
| TNS OBOP | 45% | 37% | 18% |
| 1 July 2010
| GfK Polonia | 47% | 49% | 4% |
| 2 July 2010
| Millward Brown SMG/KRC | 51% | 44% | 5% |
| 2 July 2010
| Homo Homini | 47.6% | 45.2% | 7.2% |
Results
File:Präsidentschaftswahl Polen 2010 Runde 1.svg
File:Voting card Polish presidential elections 2010 Poznan.jpg
There were 10 candidates in the first round of voting. Bronisław Komorowski of Civic Platform received 41.5% and Jarosław Kaczyński of Law and Justice received 36.5%, causing a second round of voting between the two. The other eight candidates were eliminated.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10503555.stm|title=Bronislaw Komorowski declared president of Poland|date=5 July 2010|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 July 2010}}
Soon after exit polls were released in the second round, Jarosław Kaczyński conceded that he had been defeated. Bronisław Komorowski appeared to tentatively claim victory, stating: "Tonight we will open a small bottle of champagne and tomorrow we will open a big bottle."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10503555.stm|title=Kaczynski accepts Polish election defeat|date=4 July 2010|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=4 July 2010}} The exit polls put Komorowski ahead of Kaczyński by 53% to 47%.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/05/2944462.htm?section=world|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722031150/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/05/2944462.htm?section=world|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2012|title=Liberal beats bereaved twin in Polish vote|date=5 July 2010|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=4 July 2010}} On the following day, Komorowski was declared the winner of the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ir8JleEyG0Yo_1nhoC5R225rcGjAD9GP26B80|title=Komorowski win strengthens Polish government|last=Gera|first=Vanessa|date=5 July 2010|agency=Associated Press|access-date=5 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The final result put Komorowski with 53.01% of the vote, and Kaczyński with 46.99%.
Komorowski's win resulted in Civic Platform holding both the Presidency and the government (under Prime Minister Donald Tusk).{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/7873488/Polands-liberals-dominate-after-dead-presidents-twin-defeated.html|title=Poland's liberals dominate after dead president's twin defeated|date=5 July 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=5 July 2010 | location=London | first=Our | last=Foreign}} Correspondents in US and British business newspapers suggested that Komorowski's win would mean closer engagement with the European Union,{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703620604575348772126843284?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Poland Vote Strengthens European Ties|last=Fairclough|first=Gordon|date=5 July 2010|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=5 July 2010}} and such domestic economic reforms as deficit reduction.{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/12d2922a-8859-11df-aade-00144feabdc0.html|title=Poland poised for vital reforms|last=Buckley|first=Neil|date=5 July 2010|work=Financial Times|publisher=Pearson PLC|access-date=5 July 2010}}
{{Election results
|cand1=Bronisław Komorowski|party1=Civic Platform|votes1=6981319|votes1_2=8933887
|cand2=Jarosław Kaczyński|party2=Law and Justice|votes2=6128255|votes2_2=7919134
|cand3=Grzegorz Napieralski|party3=Democratic Left Alliance|votes3=2299870
|cand4=Janusz Korwin-Mikke|party4=Liberty and Lawfulness|votes4=416898
|cand5=Waldemar Pawlak|party5=Polish People's Party|votes5=294273
|cand6=Andrzej Olechowski|party6=Independent (SD)|votes6=242439
|cand7=Andrzej Lepper|party7=Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland|votes7=214657
|cand8=Marek Jurek|party8=Right Wing of the Republic|votes8=177315
|cand9=Bogusław Ziętek|party9=Polish Labour Party - August 80|votes9=29548|color9=#FF0000
|cand10=Kornel Morawiecki|party10=Independent (SW)|votes10=21596|color10=#D4213D
|invalid=117662|invalid2=197396
|electorate=30813005|electorate2=30833924
|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111112002652/http://prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl/PZT1/EN/WYN/W/index.htm PKW], [https://web.archive.org/web/20100815101232/http://prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl/PZT/EN/WYN/W/index.htm PKW]
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100704191959/http://www.pkw.gov.pl/pkw2/index.jsp?place=Menu01&news_cat_id=22820&layout=1 The official election site of the Polish Election Committee] {{in lang|pl}}
{{Polish presidential elections}}
{{Polish Elections}}
{{History of the Third Polish Republic}}