Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun has officially thrown his support behind Karol Nawrocki in the second round of Poland’s presidential election, taking aim at liberal rival Rafał Trzaskowski.
Braun, who stunned many by earning over 6% of the vote in the first round, labeled Trzaskowski the candidate of the “united left,” accusing him of representing “Green, rainbow, the candidate of the Euro-federalists and deviants, the candidate of the camp of open national treason.”
His endorsement could tip the scales in an election widely seen as too close to call, with recent polling indicating a dead heat ahead of the June 1 vote. Braun came in fourth, while Sławomir Mentzen of the Confederation party took third place with 14.8%. Analysts expect most supporters of both right-wing candidates to rally behind Nawrocki.
Braun said he based his endorsement in part on a questionnaire he sent to both candidates. Only Nawrocki’s team replied. During a press conference broadcast by his party, the Confederation of the Polish Crown, Braun remarked that Trzaskowski’s answers “would have to be extremely convoluted,” and suggested it was better that the Civic Platform candidate did not respond at all.
