Stanislaw Gebhardt, 96: Charismatic Polish veteran of the Christian Democratic movement
In his discreet yet influential way, Stanislaw Gebhardt, the Polish exile and veteran of the Christian democratic movement, spent a lifetime working behind the scenes to promote democracy across the world. Through his efforts, leading political and religious figures from vastly different ideologies found common ground.
Yet it was the political activist's work in Latin America and Africa that brought him the most satisfaction. In the late 1950s, he played a pivotal role in organising the first Latin American Christian Democratic conference, helping countries to navigate the ideological tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. For his lifelong dedication, he received several prestigious honours, including the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins from Chile, the Order of the Liberator from Venezuela,
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Spectator
2 hours ago
- Spectator
The Polish right is radicalising
In some ways, Poland's presidential election on Sunday seems a simple continuation of the country's long-standing status quo. Karol Nawrocki, Poland's 'populist' new president, is expected to extend the existing gridlock between the president's office and the cabinet, controlled respectively by Law and Justice (PiS) and Donald Tusk's Civic Platform (PO). The close result in the run-off, moreover, appears to be in line with the deep polarisation of Polish public opinion between two camps that increasingly see each other as enemies, not just as political opponents. Yet, this short-term continuity should not blind us to signs of looming change. Poland's right is radicalising and blurring its traditionally sharp foreign policy thinking. The reasons are twofold. First, as one observer of Polish politics correctly observed in the wake of the of first round of the election, held on May 18, the real news of the election is not the vitality of 'populism' but rather the fact that the decades-long duopoly of PO and PiS is cracking.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Anti-EU football hooligan ‘pimp' Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election after knife-edge vote
Nawrocki labelled his mass footy brawl an act of 'noble combat' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANTI-EU football hooligan "pimp" Karol Nawrocki has won Poland's presidential election. According to the final result from the electoral commission, right-wing historian with a past of football hooliganism Nawrocki, 42, won the election with a slim 50.89% of the votes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Karol Nawrocki during the election evening of the second round of the Presidential election in Warsaw Credit: Getty 2 Marta Nawrocka and supported by Law and Justice party candidate for the President of Poland Karol Nawrocki during the election Credit: Getty Just six months ago, Nawrocki was a fairly unknown name - but in the run up to the election, the historian posted videos of himself at shooting ranges and boxing rings - cultivating a tough-guy image for voters. And the past two weeks have seen Nawrocki have to vehemently deny claims he had contacts in the criminal underworld and that he got prostitutes to pretend to be guests at a luxury hotel. But his campaign team were forced to admit that the new Polish leader did in fact engage in a bare-knuckle mass brawl between rival football hooligans. While his liberal opponent Rafal Trzaskowski played up his European credentials, Nawrocki met Donald Trump at the White House and received the US President's backing. read more news VOTE SHOCK Putin dealt blow in 'Super Sunday' of votes after shock result in election Unlike other eurosceptics in central Europe like Hungary's Viktor Orban, Nawrocki supports giving military aid to help Ukraine in the bloody war with Russia. But he also revealed prior to his win that he will oppose membership in Western alliances for Ukraine. This view aligns with the falling support among Poles for Ukrainians, with the country having hosted more than a million refugees from across the border. His backers in the Law and Justice (PiS) party had supported fast-tracking membership in the EU and NATO for Kyiv while in power until late 2023. Nawrocki's critics said he was fuelling unease over Ukrainian refugees at a time when the far-right is highlighting migration, the cost of living and security. He cited his campaign slogan, Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April. Nawrocki's past has been a topic of intense public debate following a series of negative media coverage. Robert Prevost elected as Pope Leo XIV - the first from North American There were questions over his acquisition of a flat from a pensioner -and even an admission that he took part in orchestrated brawls. Nawrocki, an amateur boxer, told a debate when confronted over reports he had been involved in mass organised fights between football hooligans: "All my sports activities were based on the strength of my heart, the strength of my muscles, my fists. "It was a fair competition, regardless of the form." His Law and Justice party backers have accused the government of orchestrating the controversies with the help of Poland's special services and liberal media. Nawrocki portrayed the election as a referendum on the government, which he described as a metropolitan elite out of touch with their concerns. "I am simply one of you," he told voters in the eastern town of Biala Podlaska while on the campaign trail. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Mr Nawrocki won 50.89% of the votes in a very tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. The close race had the country on edge since a first-round two weeks earlier and through the night into Monday, revealing deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union. An early exit poll released on Sunday evening suggested Mr Trzaskowski was headed to victory before updated polling began to reverse the picture hours later. The outcome indicates that Poland can be expected to take a more nationalist path under its new leader, who was backed by US President Donald Trump. Most day-to-day power in the Polish political system rests with a prime minister chosen by the parliament. However, the president's role is not merely ceremonial. The office holds the power to influence foreign policy and to veto legislation. Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a conservative whose second and final term ends on August 6. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power in late 2023 at the end of a coalition government that spans a broad ideological divide — so broad that it hasn't been able to fulfil certain of Mr Tusk's electoral promises, such as loosening the restrictive abortion law. But Mr Duda's veto power has been another obstacle. It has prevented Mr Tusk from fulfilling promises to reverse laws that politicised the court system in a way that the European Union declared to be undemocratic. Now it appears Mr Tusk will have no way to fulfil those promises, which he had made both to voters and to the EU. Mr Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian, was tapped by the Law and Justice party as part of its push for a fresh start. The party governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, when it lost power to a centrist coalition led by Mr Tusk. Some political observers predicted the party would never make a comeback, and Mr Nawrocki was chosen as a new face who would not be burned by the scandals of the party's eight years of rule. Mr Nawrocki's supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic values. Those who oppose secular trends, including LGBTQ+ visibility, have embraced him, viewing him as a reflection of the traditional values they grew up with. Mr Trump made it clear he wanted Mr Nawrocki as Poland's president. The conservative group Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) held its first meeting in Poland last week to give Mr Nawrocki a boost. Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security secretary and a prominent ally of Mr Trump, strongly praised Mr Nawrocki and urged Poles to vote for him. The US has about 10,000 troops stationed in Poland and Ms Noem suggested that military ties could deepen with Mr Nawrocki as president. A common refrain from Mr Nawrocki's supporters is that he will restore 'normality,' as they believe Mr Trump has done. US flags often appeared at Mr Nawrocki's rallies, and his supporters believed that he offered a better chance for good ties with the Trump administration.
