Poland Cannot Rule Out Delaying Presidential Election: Minister

Polish officials take the body temperature of passengers who arrived by train from Ukraine, as a preventive measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19) at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland, on March 10, 2020. (Patryk Ogorzalek/Agencja Gazeta via Reuters)

Poland cannot rule out postponing a presidential election set for May because of the coronavirus pandemic, although no such decisions have been taken up to date, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Pawel Szefernaker said on March 14.

“The election is in two months. We will see. The coming days will be key and as this disease develops in Poland we will be observing this and taking further decisions. There is not such a decision today, but it does not mean that it is ruled out,” Szefernaker told private radio RMF FM.

A model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak, on Feb. 18, 2020. (NEXU Science Communication/via Reuters)

Poland has reported 84 cases of coronavirus, including two deaths.

The government announced on Friday it would close borders to foreigners and the central bank governor called for a rate cut to fight the impact of the illness on the economy.

“Today no-one is thinking about the election, everyone is thinking how to stop this epidemic,” Szefernaker added.

By Agnieszka Barteczko