Poland braces for confrontation between incoming president and prime minister
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Karol Nawrocki, a political novice, will be inaugurated on Wednesday after winning a June 1 election in a major blow for Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU government.
Nawrocki's close-run victory against liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski confirmed the high degree of political polarisation in the EU and Nato member state, a key supporter of its neighbour Ukraine.
Presidents in Poland can initiate as well as veto legislation, and have some influence over the country's foreign and defence policies.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk. File photo: AP
The current president, Andrzej Duda, had already been at loggerheads with Tusk over many issues, including easing an almost total ban on abortion.
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