Polish prime minister's party picks Warsaw mayor as its candidate for president

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski has been selected by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition as its candidate in next year's presidential election, beating out Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.

Tusk announced the decision at a party gathering on Saturday, a day after more than 22,000 party members voted in a primary.

Tusk said that Trzaskowski won nearly 75% of the votes, and Sikorski slightly over 25%.

Political observers in Poland say Tusk's pro-European Union party has already put itself in a strong position ahead of the presidential election by showing that it had two strong candidates, generating a buzz around them and allowing party members to choose in a democratic process.

“We are responsible people, we are responsible for the fate of our homeland today,” Tusk told supporters at the party event. He also noted that it is only the start of what is expected to be a difficult campaign.

The primary process distinguishes Tusk's party from its main rival, the national conservative Law and Justice party, known by its acronym PiS, whose candidate will be handpicked by leader Jarosław Kaczyński.

“In PiS, one vote matters, while we value every vote, and that’s how we differ,” Trzaskowski told party members in his acceptance speech. “I’m convinced that we’re coming out of this election stronger, we’re all stronger, and I have a very strong mandate and a lot of energy, determination and courage to beat PiS.”

Sikorski congratulated Trzaskowski and promised his support.

Trzaskowski has long been considered the obvious candidate for Tusk’s party but was recently challenged by Sikorski, who argued that his experience in security and defense issues made him the better choice at a time of war in neighboring Ukraine and political change in the United States.

But party members overwhelmingly stuck with Trzaskowski — and were in a good mood as they gathered over coffee and cookies after cheering the outcome.

One, Małgorzata Kobus, told The Associated Press that she voted for Trzaskowski because he has been an excellent mayor, preserving green spaces and historical monuments in the capital. She also appreciates that he is highly educated, fluent in several foreign languages and has multiple degrees.

Another, Hanna Szulczewska, thinks Trzaskowski is also well suited to the difficult times in a region near Ukraine. She was also persuaded by polls that show Trzaskowski would have a better chance of beating out candidates from other parties.

“I am really convinced that he will make a fantastic president,” she said. “And strategically we really need a strong candidate.”

Trzaskowski, a 52-year-old who has been mayor since 2018, has overseen a rapidly changing city of nearly 2 million people that has absorbed large numbers of Ukrainian refugees. He ran for president in 2020, barely losing to Duda.

A first round of the presidential election is due to be held in May, and a possible runoff two weeks later if no candidate gets an outright majority in the first round.

President Andrzej Duda will complete his second five-year term in August 2025 and is prevented by the constitution from running again.

It is a priority for Tusk to have an ally win the presidency because it will determine whether he can fulfill his agenda. He is currently unable to complete some of his campaign promises because Duda wields veto power over legislation, but also because of opposition within his own three-party coalition.

The Civic Coalition is led by Tusk’s party Civic Platform and also includes smaller parties including the Greens.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, front, speak during a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsk, front left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, front right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsk, front left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, front right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsk, left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsk, left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsk, left, and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, second left, stand on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, left, stands on stage with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, right, for a presidential election announcement in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE - Former Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski attends a debate with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on democracy and the aftermath of the British departure from the EU, in Warsaw, Poland, on June 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, File)

ALTERNATIVE CROP FILE - Poland's Civic Platform member, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, gestures during an election campaign rally in Otwock, Poland, on Sept. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Angel Yin rammed in a 30-foot par putt on her opening hole, setting the tone for a day of big putts and 3-under 69 that gave her a two-shot lead Friday in the CME Group Tour Championship and the chase for the $4 million prize.

Very clear in her rearview mirror was Nelly Korda.

Korda, coming off her seventh win of the season last week, opened with a 72 and was eight shots behind. She found a simple swing thought after the round and was back to her old self with a 66 that cut the deficit in half with 36 holes left to play.

“Golf is just crazy,” Korda said. “You go from playing so well last week to not being able to find the center of the clubface yesterday. Always humbles you, but what’s that you love so much about it. Went to the range after my round yesterday. Tried to find a different feel. Felt a little better out there today, and hopefully I can keep progressing.”

Yin followed that 30-foot par putt with a 40-foot birdie putt on the next hole. She also holed a birdie putt from about 35 feet on the 11th hole that put her in the lead for good.

She was at 10-under 134. Hye-Jin Choi (68) and Narin An (72) were 8 under.

Korda, who already has captured her first award as player of the year, was tied for fourth at 138 with four other players who are either major champions or have been No. 1 in the women's world ranking — Jeeno Thitikul, Ayaka Furue, Ruoning Yin and Amy Yang, the defending champion at Tiburon Golf Club.

Furue also is in a tight battle for the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average, and she pulled within a fraction of a point of Haeran Ryu.

Yin's round had enough bogeys to slow her momentum, along with a discussion with a rules official over where she took her drop after going in the water on the par-3 fourth hole.

“It looked like I took an improper drop where I went up closer than I should have, where I should have dropped further back,” Yin said, who was asked to review footage. “They thought I didn’t take the drop properly. I explained to them that I believe I did take the drop properly.”

She said it was discussed with everyone in her group. She said a marshal never volunteered any information. The drop stood, she took bogey and was moving on.

“I believe my drop was right,” Yin said.

Korda, meanwhile, grazed the cup with birdie chances and then made up for it on the third hole when her 8-iron from the rough landed so perfectly that it rolled into the cup for an eagle. That sent her on her way.

The key to getting her game on track was using more hinge in taking the club away and taking a shorter swing. It all came together. Korda also said she finally got some rest after a busy week of awards.

Yin won $1 million last year in the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge, a bonus competition all year that measures how players fare on holes that have risk, such as a reachable par 5. That $1 million meant a lot to her, and she said it gave her some financial freedom.

What would $4 million mean?

“Even bigger financial freedom,” she said.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Hadrian Ryu tees off on the first hole during the first round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)

Nelly Korda tees off on the first hole during the first round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Tilley)