Polish far-right leader sets terms for runoff endorsement
Polish far-right leader
Slawomir Mentzen
set terms on Tuesday for a potential endorsement in the country's upcoming presidential runoff, whose nationalist and pro-EU candidates need to woo third-party voters to win.
The multi-millionaire entrepreneur and co-leader of the far-right Confederation party scored nearly 15 percent in round one of the ballot on Sunday, a strong third place that puts him in a position to play kingmaker in the June 1 runoff.
Pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski won Sunday's election by a razor-thin margin, getting 31 percent against 30 percent for nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki.
"I invite both candidates... for a chat on my YouTube channel. During each conversation I will ask them to sign a statement in line with the expectations of my voters," Mentzen said on X.
"There's no better way to win over my voters than to appear on my social media channels...
If you care about their votes, then come persuade them," he added.
Mentzen linked to a video in which he ticked off the eight items contained in the declaration he has asked the candidates to sign.
They notably include pledges to not sign any legislation that would raise taxes, ratify Ukraine's potential NATO membership or limit free speech.
"Who knows, maybe I'll even decide to endorse one of you," Mentzen said, addressing the candidates.
Nawrocki promptly wrote on X: "I accept the invitation and am ready to sign the statement's items."
Trzaskowski did not immediately comment.
An overall victory for Trzaskowski as head of state would be a boost for the centrist government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The former European Union leader's government has been at loggerheads with the current nationalist president, Andrzej Duda.
A win for Nawrocki, a fan of US President Donald Trump, would probably extend the political deadlock in the Central European country of 38 million people.
The two candidates have diverging views on abortion and LGBTQ rights. The election also comes at a fraught moment for Europe, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on and ties with Washington are under strain.
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