 When the time came to write a Polish constitution in the early 1920s , the National Democrats insisted upon a weak presidency and strong legislative branch . Dmowski was convinced that Piłsudski would become president and saw a weak executive mandate as the best way of crippling his rival . The constitution of 1921 did indeed outline a government with a weak executive branch . When Gabriel Narutowicz , a friend of Piłsudski , was elected President by the Sejm in 1922 , he was seen by many among endecja as having been elected with the support of the parties representing the national minorities , with the notable backing of the Polish Jewish politician Yitzhak Gruenbaum . After Narutowicz 's election , the National Democrats started a major campaign of vilification of the " Jewish president " elected by " foreigners " . Subsequently , a fanatical National Democratic supporter , painter Eligiusz Niewiadomski assassinated Narutowicz . 
