The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, “took note”, on Thursday 7 May, of the Polish government's announcement to postpone the presidential elections to a later date. He also welcomed the “debate” that has taken place in the country on this issue and “will continue to follow” the situation, as will “the Council of Europe” and the “OSCE”, he said on Twitter.
The election was originally scheduled for 10 May by mail and the date was maintained despite the pandemic, which had raised criticism and concern. The government is now considering deferring the election to a date around July 12.
For his part, the country's president, Andrzej Duda, a member of the ruling PiS party, called for the vote to be held “as soon as possible”, according to Reuters.
The Commission's spokesman, Christian Wigand, recalled that “free and fair” elections were a key principle “of our democracies”.
The risk that this election entailed, both for democratic principles and for the health of voters, was discussed at the College of Commissioners on May 6, Christian Wigand added. The setting of election dates is a competence of the Member States, but the Commission is ready to engage in a discussion on the best way to hold these elections within the framework of the Member States' election network, the spokesperson said. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)