Prof. Antoni Dudek said Karol Nawrocki aims to convince Polish voters that the country requires a presidential system of government [1].
The shift would represent a fundamental change in how Poland is governed. By moving away from a parliamentary-led structure toward a presidential one, the executive branch would gain significantly more direct authority over state affairs.
Speaking in March 2024 during interviews on TVN24 and TVP Info, Dudek said the right-wing politician is using this strategy [1, 3]. According to the political scientist, Nawrocki is positioning himself as an independent right-wing leader who views the current presidency as too limited [2].
Dudek said that Nawrocki does not simply want a specific constitutional court outcome, but rather a total shift in the power dynamic. "Nawrocki does not want a constitutional court. He wants presidential rule," Dudek said [3].
The analysis suggests that the candidate is seeking a mandate that transcends the traditional duties of the office. Dudek said that the goal is to secure real executive power, not merely a symbolic role, to enact a specific political agenda [2, 3].
This positioning allows Nawrocki to appeal to an electorate that may be frustrated with the slow pace of parliamentary legislation. By framing the presidency as the primary engine of government, the candidate can present himself as a decisive leader capable of bypassing legislative gridlock [1, 2].
“"Nawrocki does not want a constitutional court. He wants presidential rule."”
This shift in political rhetoric signals a potential move toward executive aggrandizement in Poland. If a candidate successfully persuades the public that the parliamentary system is insufficient, it could lead to constitutional reforms that diminish the role of the legislature and concentrate power in the presidency, altering the democratic balance of the state.
