“After my presidency, I would like to serve Poland, even if only on the margins of the political scene, by running an initiative such as a think tank, where I could act as its patron,” said former president Andrzej Duda. He added that he would create it together with his former associates. He also assured that he does not plan to establish his own political party.
In Roman Rymanowski’s YouTube program, Duda was asked about reports regarding his future after the presidency and the opinions of people close to him who claimed he intended to break with the tradition of presidential retirement.
“First of all, I would like to serve Poland, even if only with my experience, even if only on the margins of the political scene, not directly, but within its orbit, by running an initiative like the think tanks found in countries with established democracies,”
Duda explained.
In his view, Polish democracy “is becoming more established, it is time for such think tanks to emerge.” Among notable think tanks in Poland, he mentioned the Kościuszko Institute and the Sobieski Institute. According to him, it would be possible to create another similar institution in which he would serve as patron.
“We will create it together with my associates, those who were in my circle and worked with me as experts. Some of them may be my former ministers from the Presidential Chancellery,” he stated. Asked about financing such a think tank, Duda expressed hope of “encouraging people who already hold serious business and economic positions to openly co-finance the institution’s activities.”
“That’s how these institutions work around the world; they receive various types of donations and support for their operations and projects. We will also prepare different projects, which may bring certain benefits to entrepreneurs as well, such as various analyses and offers,”
he emphasized.
According to him, the think tank could focus on discussions “about the role Poland should play, what kind of Poland we want, and whether constitutional changes are needed in the country.”
“We will discuss politics in theoretical terms, offering people from the political scene different kinds of solutions that could be considered and implemented,” he explained. He added that he would be “very pleased” if the think tank developed an international profile, though, as he pointed out, this was not a firm objective.
Duda also assured that he does not plan to establish his own political party. Asked whether he intended to rejoin PiS or Konfederacja, he replied: “That is not really customary.”
He added that if an offer were made for him to serve as prime minister, he would, of course, consider “such a thing for the good of Poland.”