Big claim: Polish Presidential candidate Trzaskowski says he has emerged victorious
Shrey Banerjee
Published 2 Jun 2025, 01:10 AM IST Tight Poland presidential race sees an interesting turn: Trzaskowski leads narrowly
After an exit poll showed Polish centrist Presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski leading on Sunday, he made a big claim.
Trzaskowski said he had won the second round of the election, amid a tough and ongoing fight between him and nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk calls confidence vote after nationalist wins presidency
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continuing support for his pro-EU government after nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election. European far-right leaders welcomed the election of the 42-year-old Nawrocki, a fan of US President Donald Trump who has said he will oppose the government's progressive agenda on abortion and LGBTQ rights . He won Sunday's runoff in the highly polarised EU and NATO member state with 51 percent of the vote to 49 percent for Tusk's liberal ally Rafal Trzaskowski. In a televised address, former EU chief Tusk said on Monday he wanted the confidence vote "soon" and vowed to stay on, adding that the election "will not change anything". His comments came shortly after opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski of the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party said that Poles had shown him the "red card". Live Events Kacynski called for a "technical" government of experts to replace the current one. Nawrocki said that he wanted Poland to be "a state that matters in international, European and transatlantic relations". "I will represent you with dignity on the international state, ensuring Poland is treated as an equal," he wrote on social media. Nawrocki could revive tensions with Brussels over rule-of-law issues and complicate ties with Ukraine as he opposes NATO membership for the war-torn country and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. "Nawrocki's presidency will be a rough ride for the Tusk government," said analyst Piotr Buras, adding that the president-elect "wants to overthrow" Tusk. He told AFP that the election result could lead to "early parliamentary elections, maybe not this year, but next" year. Reforms planned by Tusk, who came to power in 2023, have been held up by a deadlock with the current president, who endorsed Nawrocki. There have also been divisions in his governing coalition, which analysts said could be exacerbated by the election result. Polish presidents hold a crucial veto power over legislation. 'Share common values' Nationalist leaders rushed to congratulate Nawrocki. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed his fellow nationalist's "fantastic victory", writing on social media: "We are looking forward to working with you." French far-right leader Marine Le Pen also welcomed the "good news", while Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered "best wishes" to Nawrocki and said their countries "share common values". Trump congratulated Poland on electing his ally: "Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!" Other EU leaders gave a more measured response. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was "confident" that "very good cooperation" would continue with Warsaw. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Nawrocki to work towards "a strong, independent and competitive Europe that respects the rule of law". In his congratulatory statement late Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "The Polish people have spoken and support a stronger military and securing their borders". 'They'll block everything' Many Nawrocki supporters said they hoped the new president would help curb immigration and advocate for more sovereignty for Poland within the European Union. During the campaign, he also tapped into growing resentment against the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. Nawrocki used his last campaign hours to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. Trzaskowski voter Zdzislaw Brojek said he expected "chaos" under the new president, who he claimed would do the PiS party's bidding. "They'll block laws, they'll block everything," the 65-year-old gardener told AFP in Warsaw. Tomasz Szypula, 45, a campaigner, said the outcome "pushes back the prospect of any positive change for LGBTQ people for another five years," the duration of presidential terms in Poland. He called the realisation "devastating". Nawrocki opposes same-sex unions and said in April that "the LGBT community cannot count on me to address their issues". He also opposes any easing of Poland's near-total ban on abortion, declaring that he was "in favour of protecting life". Nawrocki's campaign was overshadowed at times by controversies over a murky apartment purchase and his football hooligan past. An amateur boxer, Nawrocki also denied media reports that he had procured sex workers while working as a hotel security guard.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Polish Nationalist Karol Nawrocki wins presidency with 51% votes in high-turnout runoff vote
Polish nationalist opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki won the second round of the country's presidential election with 50.89 pc of the votes. Nawrocki, who is supported by the Law and Justice party, is expected to continue the policies of his predecessor, Prez Andrzej Duda. The 42-year-old is a Eurosceptic historian campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies that favour Poles over other nationalities. The electoral commission said that Poles set a record turnout for the second round of a presidential election, at around 71 pc. Nawrocki's win deals a blow to the reform agenda of the pro-European government. Show more Show less
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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Business Standard
Trump-backed conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential race
Conservative Karol Nawrocki's victory in Poland's weekend presidential runoff has set the country on a more nationalist course and cast doubt on the viability of the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk after the defeat of his liberal ally. Nawrocki, who was supported by US President Donald Trump, won 50.89 per cent of votes in a very tight race against Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 per cent, according to the final results published on Monday morning. By evening, Tusk said he would ask parliament to hold a vote of confidence in his coalition government, a fragile multiparty alliance that includes left-wingers, centrists and agrarian conservatives. Tusk's government exists separately from the presidency, but the president holds power to veto laws, and Nawrocki's win will make it extremely difficult for Tusk to press his pro-European agenda. The race revealed deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of Nato and the European Union. The result leaves Tusk politically wounded, and there are questions about whether his coalition can survive to the end of its term in late 2027. There were already calls on Monday from political opponents for him to step down. Tusk said in a video posted to social media that there's a lot of work for the government to do, and its first test would be the vote of confidence held in "the near future." If Tusk survives the confidence vote, it would show he still has a mandate to govern. He also said he was prepared to work with Nawrocki if the willingness is there. "I want everyone to see including our opponents, at home and abroad that we are ready for this situation, that we understand the gravity of the moment, and that we do not intend to back down, not even a step," he said. Nawrocki thanks his voters In his first public comments since his win was announced, Nawrocki thanked those who voted for him and said he would work for the causes that matter to them. "We want to live in a safe country with a strong economy, one that cares for the most vulnerable. A country that matters in international, European, and transatlantic relations. A country that cherishes its centuries-old traditions and respects its history," he wrote on social media. 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 values they grew up with. Most day-to-day power in the Polish political system rests with a prime minister chosen by the parliament. However, the president's role isn't merely ceremonial. The office also holds the power to influence foreign policy. Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a conservative whose second and final term ends on August 6. Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki. "I fought for us to build a strong, safe, honest, and empathetic Poland together," he wrote on social media. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to convince the majority of citizens of my vision for Poland." Congratulations from Zelenskyy, Orbn Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the leaders offering congratulations to Nawrocki, an acknowledgement of Poland's key role as a neighbour, ally and hub for Western weapons sent to Kyiv. He called Poland a pillar of regional and European security." Nawrocki supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion, but he's more critical of Zelenskyy than Polish leaders to date, and he opposes Nato membership for Kyiv. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, who shares Nawrocki's national conservative worldview, hailed Nawrocki's "fantastic victory." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered measured congratulations: "We are all stronger together in our community of peace, democracy, and values. So let us work to ensure the security and prosperity of our common home." A former boxer, historian and political novice Nawrocki, a 42-year-old amateur boxer and 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 Tusk's centrist coalition. Some political observers predicted it would never make a comeback, and Nawrocki was chosen as a new face who would not be burned by the scandals of the party's rule. The election outcome vindicated party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski's strategy, but on Monday, many were also blaming the increasingly unpopular Tusk and Trzaskowski. Nawrocki has most recently been the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, which embraces nationalist historical narratives. He led efforts to topple monuments to the Soviet Red Army in Poland, and Russia responded by putting him on a wanted list, according to Polish media reports. Nawrocki's candidacy was clouded by 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 various "noble" fights in his life. The revelations did not seem to hurt his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. The Trump factor Trump made it clear he wanted Nawrocki as Poland's president. He welcomed Nawrocki to the White House a month ago. And last week, the conservative group CPAC held its first meeting in Poland to give Nawrocki a boost. Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security Secretary and a prominent Trump ally, praised Nawrocki and urged Poles to vote for him. The US has about 10,000 troops stationed in Poland, and Noem suggested that military ties could deepen with Nawrocki as president. A common refrain from Nawrocki's supporters is that he will restore "normality," as they believe Trump has done. US flags often appeared at Nawrocki's rallies, and his supporters believed that he offered a better chance for good ties with the Trump administration. Nawrocki has also 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. He has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity, vowing to prioritize Poles for social services such as health care and schooling.
