2024-11-29 14:29 update: 2024-11-29, 14:31
Photo PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
Veterans of Poland's anti-communist opposition have protested against what they see as the use of public office in a presidential campaign by Karol Nawrocki, head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), who is supported by the former ruling party.
On November 23, the socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party that ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023, officially endorsed Nawrocki as their presidential candidate in the 2025 election. Although running as an independent contender, Nawrocki is widely regarded as a PiS candidate.
In their appeal, published on Friday, the former oppositionists complained that the law on the IPN "prescribes the apolitical nature of the institution and forbids the (IPN - PAP) president from belonging to a party or conducting public activities incompatible with the dignity of the office."
"The IPN's role is to serve the memory and history common to all citizens of the Republic of Poland regardless of their views," they added.
IPN is tasked with researching and prosecuting wrongdoings against the Polish nation, including by the Soviets, Nazis and the Polish post-World War Two communist government.
Nawrocki did not resign from his post after announcing he would run for highest office in Poland, although he vowed that he would take a leave of absence when the date of the election is officially announced.
However, the IPN's social media channels, including on the X platform, cheered Nawrocki's decision to run for president.
"This shocking support of one of the candidates by a public institution is outrageous," Krzysztof Krol, a former anti-communist oppositionist, has said.
The signatories appealed to the IPN "to stop using the funds of a public institution for Karol Nawrocki's campaign" and demanded that "the costs already incurred be charged to the Electoral Committee and the political party supporting the candidate." (PAP)
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