National Electoral Commission: presidential election call no sooner than January 15

Earlier, Szymon Hołownia had indicated his intention to announce the presidential election date and calendar on January 8, 2025, which would initiate the electoral campaign once the announcement was officially published.

However, the constitution stipulates that elections cannot be held within 90 days following the termination of a state of emergency. The state of natural disaster, implemented by the government in response to the September floods, was lifted on October 16, 2024. Therefore, the 90-day period ends on January 14, 2025. This raised questions about whether the election date could be announced as early as January 8.

To address these concerns, Hołownia sought clarification from the PKW.

According to PKW Secretary and Head of the National Electoral Office, Magdalena Pietrzak, the Commission concluded on Monday that, due to the lifting of the state of natural disaster on October 16, 2024, the Speaker of the Sejm can call the presidential election only after January 14, 2025.

The PKW had previously expressed a similar stance regarding elections for local government bodies during their terms in areas affected by a state of natural disaster. It stated that the lifting of the disaster declaration on October 16, 2024, meant that no elections could be called or held in the affected areas until January 14, 2025.

On Monday evening, the Sejm Chancellery confirmed receiving the PKW’s response to Speaker Hołownia’s inquiry about announcing the presidential election date.

"The PKW stated that Article 228, Paragraph 7 of the Constitution should be interpreted to mean that elections can only be announced after January 14, 2025. The Speaker of the Sejm will take the PKW's position into account, ensuring the formal correctness of the electoral process," the Sejm Chancellery emphasized in a statement.