Donald Tusk, the outgoing president of the European Council, has announced that he will not be a candidate in next year’s Polish presidential election.
The announcement, made in Brussels on November 4, ends months of speculation.
“I am announcing this decision today because time is pressing and I would not like to hinder the opposition’s selection of candidates in any way,” said Mr Tusk, who served as Poland’s prime minister from 2007-14. “I believe that we can win these elections, but for this the opposition needs a candidate not burdened by the baggage of difficult, unpopular decisions, and I am burdened with such baggage.”
Mr Tusk, 62, whose term as European Council president ends on November 30, nevertheless added that he would “strongly support” the Polish opposition.
Poland’s presidential election will take place in May 2020.
