Poland elects nationalist Karol Nawrocki as president
Nationalist opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki narrowly won Poland's presidential election, results showed Monday, delivering a major blow to the centrist government's efforts to cement Warsaw's pro-European orientation.
Nawrocki secured 50.89 per cent of the vote, election commission data showed — an outcome that presages more political gridlock as he is likely to use his presidential veto to thwart Prime Minister Donald Tusk's liberal policy agenda.
Tusk's government has been seeking to reverse judicial reforms made by the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government, but current President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, has blocked its efforts.
Nawrocki's rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal Warsaw mayor who was standing for Tusk's ruling Civic Coalition (KO), got 49.11 per cent, the data showed. Turnout was 71.31 per cent, the electoral commission said, a record for the second round of a presidential election.
"I'm sorry that I didn't manage to convince the majority of citizens of my vision of Poland," Trzaskowski said on X. "I congratulate Karol Nawrocki on winning the presidential election."
While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation and influence foreign policy, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine, as well as Russia, the United States and the European Union.
Nawrocki, like his predecessor Duda, is expected to block any attempts by the Tusk government to liberalize abortion or reform the judiciary.
"Everything was on a knife edge," said 32-year-old IT specialist Patryk Marek. "Feelings are for sure mixed for this moment. But how small this margin was, it tells us how divided we are, almost in half, as voters."
Zelenskyy congratulates winner
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the leaders offering their congratulations to Nawrocki on Monday morning, an acknowledgement of Poland's key role as a neighbour, ally and hub for Western weapons sent to Kyiv in its war against Russia.
"I look forward to continued fruitful co-operation with Poland and with President Nawrocki," Zelenskyy said.
Nawrocki was backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, with about 10,000 American troops stationed in Poland.
Nawrocki, 42, a newcomer to politics who previously ran a national remembrance institute, has echoed some of Trump's language on Ukraine. He promises to continue Poland's support for Ukraine but has been critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of taking advantage of allies, and he opposes Ukraine membership in Western alliances.
The candidate also has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity, vowing to prioritize Poles for social services such as health care and schooling.
Nawrocki vowed to protect Poland's sovereignty and railed against what he said was excessive interference in the country's affairs from the European Union in Brussels. The EU took the previous PiS government to court over its judicial reforms, saying they undermined the rule of law and democratic standards.
In a meeting with Slawomir Mentzen, the far-right candidate who was in third place in the first round of the election, Nawrocki signed a declaration that he will not agree to any European treaties that would "weaken the position of Poland."
Nawrocki shakes off allegations
Nawrocki won despite his past dominating the last days of the presidential campaign, including allegations of past connections to criminal figures and his participation in a violent street brawl. He denies the criminal links but was unapologetic about the street fight, saying he had taken part in "noble" fights in his life.
Congratulations poured in from other nationalist and eurosceptic politicians. The defeated hard-right candidate in Romania's election, George Simion, wrote on X "Poland WON," while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed a "fantastic victory."
The run-off vote in Poland came just two weeks after Romania's centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, had dealt a blow to hard-right and nationalist forces in central Europe by winning that country's presidential contest.
The result could lend momentum to the Czech Republic's eurosceptic opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who leads opinion polls ahead of an October election. Babis offered "warm congratulations" on X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Items belonging to the late Diana will go on auction this month
FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 2, 1987 file photo, Britain's Diana, the Princess of Wales, is pictured during an evening reception given by the West German President Richard von Weizsacker in honour of the British Royal guests in the Godesberg Redoute in Bonn, Germany. (AP Photo/Herman Knippertz, File)


CTV News
12 hours ago
- CTV News
Italy's referendum on citizenship and job protections fails because of low turnout
Ballot papers are prepared on a table for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP) ROME — Italy's referendums aimed at relaxing citizenship laws and improving job protections failed on Monday because of low turnout. But organizers said that it contributed to restarting the public debate in the country over high-stakes issues. The result was a clear defeat for the center-left opposition and a victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her ruling right-wing coalition, which openly supported abstention. Final data showed that turnout stood at 30.6% of eligible voters after two days of polling, well below the 50% plus one required to make the vote valid. Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party celebrated the referendum's failure. 'The only real goal of this referendum was to bring down the Meloni government,' the party said on social media, posting a picture of the main opposition's leaders. 'In the end, it was the Italians who brought you down.' Maurizio Landini, leader of the CGIL trade union that was behind the initiative, acknowledged the defeat, but stressed it could be a starting point to revive key social battles focusing on workers' rights. 'We knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park,' he said. 'There is an obvious crisis of democracy and participation.' Landini noted that more than 14 million Italians cast their ballots in the two-days referendum, with more than 80% voting in favor of the proposed measures aimed at strengthening job protections. The five proposals wanted to make it easier for immigrants and children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship — halving the years of residency required to five from 10 — and provide more job protections. The leader of Italy'a center-left Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, stressed that 'more electors voted in these referendums than those who voted for the right in 2022, backing Meloni in government.' Rights at stake Campaigners for the change in the citizenship law said that it would help second-generation Italians born in the country to non- European Union parents better integrate into a culture they already see as theirs. The new rules, if passed, would have affected about 2.5 million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognized as citizens. Activist groups said that the proposed reforms also would have allowed faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment and freedom of movement within the EU. The referendum on citizenship, however, proved to be more divisive than the others, as only about 65% voted 'yes' in support of measures easing the current laws. Activists and opposition parties denounced the lack of public debate on the measures, accusing the governing coalition of having tried to dampen interest in sensitive issues that directly impact immigrants and workers. In May, Italy's AGCOM communications authority filed a complaint against RAI state television and other broadcasters over a lack of adequate and balanced coverage. Opinion polls published in mid-May showed that only 46% of Italians were aware of the issues driving the referendums. 'Many believe that the referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention (that) emerged in recent elections and the turnout threshold should be lowered,' said Lorenzo Pregliasco, political analyst and pollster at YouTrend. Giada Zampano, The Associated Press


CBC
16 hours ago
- CBC
UN treaty aims to protect international waters and their inhabitants
World leaders, scientists gather in France for UN Ocean Conference 12 hours ago Duration 1:57 Social Sharing UN Secretary General António Guterres on Monday urged world leaders to ratify a treaty that would allow nations to establish protected marine areas in international waters, warning that human activity was destroying ocean ecosystems. Speaking at the opening of the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, Guterres cautioned that illegal fishing, plastic pollution and rising sea temperatures threatened delicate ecosystems and the people who depend on them. "The ocean is the ultimate shared resource. But we are failing it," Guterres said, citing collapsing fish stocks, rising sea levels and ocean acidification. Oceans also provide a vital buffer against climate change, by absorbing around 30 per cent of planet-heating CO2 emissions. But as the oceans heat up, hotter waters are destroying marine ecosystems and threatening the oceans' ability to absorb CO2. WATCH | The last time the Earth was this hot, here's what the ocean did: The last time the Earth was this hot — here's what the ocean did 18 days ago Duration 1:24 Sea levels will rise — by metres, not centimetres — and the time to prepare is now. Drawing on ancient clues and the latest science, Johanna Wagstaffe explains what Earth's past reveals about our coastal future — and why smart planning today could protect millions in the decades and centuries to come. "These are symptoms of a system in crisis — and they are feeding off each other. Unravelling food chains. Destroying livelihoods. Deepening insecurity," said Guterres. The High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, would permit countries to establish marine parks in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and are largely unregulated. So far, only an estimated one per cent of international waters, known as the "high seas," have been protected. The drive for nations to turn years of promises into meaningful protection for the oceans comes as President Donald Trump pulls the United States and its money out of climate projects, and as some European governments weaken green policy commitments as they seek to support anemic economies and fend off nationalists. U.S. won't ratify treaty — and isn't bound by it The United States has not yet ratified the treaty and will not do so during the conference, said Rebecca Hubbard, director of The High Seas Alliance. "If they don't ratify, they are not bound by it," she said. "The implementation will take years, but it is critical we start now and we won't let the U.S. absence stop that from happening." WATCH | Scientists want a ban on deep-sea mining. Trump wants to fast-track it: Scientists want a ban on deep-sea mining. Trump wants to fast-track it 5 days ago Duration 1:59 A group of leading ocean and climate scientists, including Canadians, is calling for a ban on deep-sea mining just as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to fast-track undersea mining approvals. French President Emmanuel Macron, the conference's co-host, told delegates that 50 countries had now ratified the treaty and that another 15 had promised to do so. The treaty will only come into force once 60 countries ratify it. Macron's foreign minister said he expected that would happen before the end of the year. The United States has not sent a high-level delegation to the conference. "It's not a surprise; we know the American administration's position on these issues," Macron told reporters late on Sunday.