1922 Polish presidential elections

Piłsudski with president Narutowicz.

After acquisition of independence of Poland the head of state was Naczelnik Państwa Józef Piłsudski. In a new constitution adopted by the Polish Sejm, the new head of state was to be the President of Republic of Poland - to be choose by the National Assembly (combined Sejm and Senate). After the parliamentary election, planning began for the first Polish presidential election in history.

The main probable candidate Józef Piłsudski, despite calls for him to contend, did not run for election. He proposed a former Prime Minister, Wincenty Witos, for presidency. Witos also refused. Finally Piłsudski supported the candidature of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Narutowicz.

At the time of the election the main candidates were count Maurycy Zamoyski, the candidate of National Democracy and Stanisław Wojciechowski, candidate of Polish People's Party "Piast". Narutowicz's good result was a surprise. Once the long voting was over, Zamoyski and Narutowicz advanced to the fifth ballot. Narutowicz finally won the election with the support of "Piast" (Wojciechowski was eliminated on the fourth round).

Narutowicz was sworn in as President on 11 December 1922, but was assassinated just five days later.[1]

Candidates

• 
  Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Narutowicz
• 
  Diplomat Maurycy Zamoyski
• 
  Former Minister of the Interior Stanisław Wojciechowski
• 
  Linguist Jan Baudouin de Courtenay
• 
  Former Prime Minister Ignacy Daszyński

1922 Polish presidential election

20 December 1922

Nominee Stanisław Wojciechowski Kazimierz Morawski Party PSL "Piast" ZLN Popular vote 298 221 Percentage 57% 43%

President before election Maciej Rataj (acting) PSL President Stanisław Wojciechowski PSL

The first election, when President of the Republic of Poland Gabriel Narutowicz was elected after several rounds by joint chambers of Sejm and Senate (at time of Second Polish Republic joint parliament elected President. The first direct vote took place in 1990). Narutowicz, however, was assassinated just five days since taking office. According to the Constitution the Sejm Marshal Maciej Rataj became Acting President of the Republic of Poland and organised new elections, which took place on 20 December. Stanislaw Wojciechowski won the second election, and took office on 22 December.[2]

• List of Polish presidents
• Józef Piłsudski
• Gabriel Narutowicz
• Andrzej Duda

• Sławomir Koper, Józef Piłsudski. Człowiek i polityk, Warsaw 2011
• Dodatek nadzwyczajny, "Kurjer Poznański", 9 December 1922, Poznań.