Liberal Challenger to Conservative Polish President Drops Out of Race After Support Collapse

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – The main opposition candidate in Poland´s trouble-ridden presidential election said Friday she was quitting the race after her support dropped dramatically.

Center-liberal candidate Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska of the Civic Platform party was at one point seen as a strong contender, but lost almost all support after she called for a boycott of the election held amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Civic Platform is expected to name a new candidate to run against the frontrunner, incumbent President Andrzej Duda, and a few other candidates.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and former foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski have been mentioned as potential new picks.

The election was originally scheduled for last Sunday but was postponed amid coronavirus restrictions and political infighting over how and when to hold the vote. The new date is still to be announced, but it should fall before late July.

Duda, whose term expires Aug. 6, is seeking reelection with the support of the ruling, right-wing Law and Justice party.