After the independence of Poland, the head of state was Naczelnik Państwa Józef Piłsudski.

The main probable candidate Józef Piłsudski, despite calls for him to contend, did not run for election.

Finally Piłsudski supported the candidature of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Narutowicz.

Narutowicz finally won the election with the support of "Piast" (Wojciechowski was eliminated on the fourth round).

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.