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Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Poland's war against itself enters a new phase after far-right's presidential election success
It was the strangest electoral campaign in modern Polish history, with an obviously qualified candidate losing by a sliver to a man who had no business being on the ballot. Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, speaks five languages and has served as a government minister and a member of the European Parliament, whereas Karol Nawrocki, the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, was previously unknown. Worse, reporting throughout the campaign revealed shocking facts about Nawrocki's past. A violent former football hooligan and a friend of people convicted for serious crimes, his candidacy was conjured out of thin air by Jarosław Kaczyński, the longtime leader of the illiberal, populist former governing party, Law and Justice (PiS). Nawrocki has been accused of operating as a pimp at the Grand Hotel in Sopot two decades ago, and of extorting an apartment from a disabled elderly man. President-elect Karol Nawrocki stands next to a portrait of late former president Lech Kaczynski as he waits to meet with President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Wednesday. Picture: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images Are these the only skeletons in his closet? The answer hardly matters to Poland's far-right voters. Like Donald Trump's supporters, there is no level of criminality that would turn them against their tribe's totem. While exit polls on election night showed Trzaskowski in the lead (50.30% to 49.70%), the final results delivered a victory for Nawrocki (50.9% to 49.1%). Not for the first time, Poland has become a global laughingstock. We can fight wars and rise up against dictatorships – as Solidarity did in overthrowing communism – but apparently we are incapable of sustaining normal, serious governance. Whatever we build, we immediately set out to destroy. Poles seem to have forgotten that their country once disappeared from the map of Europe; that their national security depends on competent, responsible government. Despite a revanchist Russia waging war on Ukraine next door, they have opted for feckless fanaticism yet again. For the next five years, the presidency will be controlled by populist right-wing forces sympathetic to friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin such as Viktor Orbán. Moreover, PiS is not the only right-wing party to have had a good election. In the first round, Sławomir Mentzen of the far-right, nationalist, anti-Ukrainian Confederation won almost 15% of the vote, and the openly anti-Semitic Grzegorz Braun won over 6%. Poland's defeated democratic elites will need to reflect on these disturbingly strong performances. While the outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, was mostly a comical figure – a puppet dangling from Kaczyński's strings – Nawrocki could be much more brutal and ruthless. And the threat that he poses will be magnified, because he will have the full-throated support of US President Donald Trump's administration (which already interfered in the election by having Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem endorse him during a recent stop in Poland). Thus, Nawrocki's victory can be expected to sow instability beyond Poland's borders. Polish-Ukrainian relations will undoubtedly be harmed. Nawrocki has openly declared that he would not agree to Ukraine's accession to NATO and the European Union (echoing Putin's own wishes), and he is known to have made viciously anti-Ukrainian statements in public and in private. Even more ominously, while the government oversees defence and foreign policy in peacetime, the president becomes the commander-in-chief of the armed forces during wartime. How did Nawrocki win? One explanation is that such an extreme accumulation of scandals during the campaign had a Trump-like boomerang effect, creating the impression that the candidate was being attacked unfairly. President-elect Karol Nawrocki (right) shakes hands with outgoing president Andrzej Duda (left). While Duda was mostly a comical figure — a puppet dangling from Kaczyński's strings — Nawrocki could be much more ruthless. Picture: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty At the same time, Trzaskowski's campaign lacked a positive message, since it focused so much on exposing Nawrocki's dark past. At Trzaskowski's request, Poland's liberal prime minister, Donald Tusk, stayed out of the campaign almost until the very end. Only in the final two weeks did he come out to urge Poles to open their eyes. Perhaps the grimmest augury is that Poles under 40 opted for Nawrocki's republic of xenophobes over Trzaskowski's 'modern Poland' (anti-establishment sentiment was decisive). What should Tusk do now? Since calling for a vote of confidence to confirm his mandate may lead to more chaos, he and his four-party coalition are likely to stay put until the end of this parliamentary term. In the meantime, they will need to develop a strategy for beating PiS and the Confederation in the 2027 parliamentary election. In practice, Tusk's government will be largely confined to an administrative role until then. Any more serious reforms will be non-starters, because Nawrocki, like Duda, will simply veto whatever the Sejm passes. While the government still controls most of the levers of power, all the institutions that PiS dismantled between 2015 and 2023 will remain unrepaired. Fortunately, because these institutions have been so discredited, they will remain marginal, which ironically broadens the Tusk government's room for maneuver. The liberal parliamentary majority is not as helpless as it may seem. Tusk still has the greatest say in governing the country, and he can still position his coalition for success with voters. It won't be smooth sailing for Nawrocki. Narrowly defeating Trzaskowski was one thing; facing off against a politician as experienced as Tusk is quite another matter. For now, Nawrocki will be subordinate to the unpopular Kaczyński, because he will need PiS support if he hopes to be re-elected. Only in a second term would he be able to break away. But by then, the far-right Confederation, which is growing in strength, may have come to dominate the Polish right wing. The country's war against itself is entering a new phase. Sławomir Sierakowski, founder of the Krytyka Polityczna movement, is a Mercator senior fellow Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2025.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Poland election results: Who won, who lost, what's next
Karol Nawrocki, Poland's right-wing opposition candidate, narrowly won the second round of voting in the country's presidential election on Sunday, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). Here is all you need to know about the results: Nawrocki won with 50.89 percent of the votes, the NEC website updated early on Monday. He defeated liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who secured 49.11 percent of the vote. The outcome was a surprise because exit polls had projected a narrow loss for first round took place on May 18, where, as expected, none of the 13 presidential candidates could manage to reach a 50 percent threshold. Trzaskowski won 31.4 percent of the vote, while Nawrocki got 29.5 percent. As the top two candidates, Nawrocki and Trzaskowski proceeded to the run-off. Nawrocki, 42, is a conservative historian and amateur boxer. He contested as an independent candidate, backed by the outgoing president, Andrzej Duda's Law and Justice (PiS), Poland's main opposition party. The newly elected president's academic work, as a historian, centred on anti-communist resistance. At the moment, he runs the Institute of National Remembrance, a Warsaw-based government-funded research institute that studies the history of Poland during World War II and the period of communism until 1990. At the institute, Nawrocki has removed Soviet memorials, upsetting Russia. He administered the Museum of the Second World War in the Polish city of Gdansk from 2017 to 2021. Nawrocki has had his share of controversies. In 2018, he published a book about a notorious gangster under the pseudonym 'Tadeusz Batyr'. In public comments, Nawrocki and Batyr praised each other, without revealing they were the same person. United States President Donald Trump's administration threw its weight behind Nawrocki in the Polish election. The US group Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held its first meeting in Poland on May 27. 'We need you to elect the right leader,' US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during the CPAC event. Calling Trzaskowski 'an absolute train wreck of a leader', Noem said, 'I just had the opportunity to meet with Karol and listen: he needs to be the next president of Poland. Do you understand me?' Experts say the consistency of Nawrocki's messaging on the campaign trail may have earned him his win. 'People choose someone they see as strong, clear, and consistent,' Liliana Smiech, chairwoman of the Foundation Council at Warsaw Institute, a Polish nonprofit think tank specialising in geopolitics and international affairs, told Al Jazeera. 'Even with the accusations against him, voters preferred his firmness over Trzaskowski's constant rebranding. Trzaskowski tried to be everything to everyone and ended up convincing no one. Nawrocki looks like someone who can handle pressure. He became the president for difficult times.' Unlike Trzaskowski, Smiech said, Nawrocki 'didn't try to please everyone'. Yet he managed to please enough voters to win. Most of the power in Poland rests in the hands of the prime minister. The incumbent, Donald Tusk, leads a centre-right coalition government, and Trzaskowski was the ruling alliance's candidate. Nawrocki has been deeply critical of the Tusk administration. The president has the ability to veto legislation and influence military and foreign policy decisions. On the campaign trail, Nawrocki promised to lower taxes and pull Poland out of the European Union's Pact on Migration and Asylum, an agreement on new rules for managing migration and setting a common asylum system; and the European Green Deal, which sets benchmarks for environmental protection for the EU, such as the complete cessation of net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. Like other candidates, including Trzaskowski, Nawrocki called for Poland to spend up to 5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Poland spent 3.8 percent of its GDP on military expenditure in 2023, according to World Bank data. 'Some expected a wave of support for the left or liberal side, especially among young people. That didn't happen. Nawrocki won in the 18-39 age group,' Smiech said. 'It's a clear message: people still care about sovereignty, tradition, and strong leadership. Even younger voters are not buying into the idea of a 'new progressive Poland'.' The Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, is a concerning issue for the Poles, who are fearful of a spillover of Russian aggression to Poland due to its proximity to Ukraine. While Poland initially threw its full support behind Ukraine, tensions have grown between Poland and Ukraine. Nawrocki is opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and the EU. Yet, at the same time, Poland and Nawrocki remain deeply suspicious of Russia. On May 12, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said an investigation had revealed that Russian intelligence agencies had orchestrated a massive fire at a shopping centre in Warsaw in May 2024. This is why multiple candidates in this election proposed raising the defence budget to 5 percent of the GDP. Abortion is a key issue in Poland, which has some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. In August 2024, Prime Minister Tusk acknowledged that he did not have enough backing from parliament to deliver on one of his key campaign promises and change the abortion law. PiS, which backed Nawrocki, is opposed to any legalisation of abortion. Other issues included economic concerns about taxes, housing costs and the state of public is expected to be sworn in on August 6. Smeich said Nawrocki will need to prove that he is not just good at campaigning, but also at governing. 'Expectations are high. People want someone who will defend Poland's interests, stay firm under pressure, and not give in to media or foreign influence. He's starting his term in a tough moment — exactly the kind of moment he was elected for.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki backed by Donald Trump
Who is Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki backed by Donald Trump (Image: AP) Karol Nawrocki, a conservative candidate, has narrowly won Poland's presidential election with 50.89% of the vote, edging out liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a fellow conservative whose second and final term ends on August 6. While most day-to-day power in Poland lies with the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, the presidency is far from ceremonial. The president holds significant influence over foreign policy and has the power to veto legislation. Who is Karol Nawrocki? Nawrocki, 42, is a right-wing historian and former heavyweight boxing champion. He received backing from then US President Donald Trump during the election campaign. Reports indicate that Nawrocki met with Trump in the Oval Office last month and that US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently encouraged Poles to support him to maintain strong ties with the US. Nawrocki was chosen by the Law and Justice party as part of its effort to refresh its image. The party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, lost power last year to a centrist coalition led by Donald Tusk. Prior to running for president, Nawrocki led the Institute of National Remembrance, an institution known for promoting nationalist historical narratives. He spearheaded efforts to remove Soviet Red Army monuments in Poland, prompting Russia to place him on a wanted list, according to Polish media. Political Stance and Support Base Nawrocki has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, emphasizing patriotism and Catholic principles. His supporters view him as a symbol of these values, and he has gained backing from those opposing secular trends, including LGBTQ visibility. On foreign policy, Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine and expresses scepticism towards the European Union. Controversies Nawrocki's campaign was shadowed by allegations of past ties to criminal figures and involvement in violent street fights. He denies any criminal links but admits to participating in what he calls 'noble' fights. These allegations did not seem to affect his support among right-wing voters, many of whom believe the accusations are politically motivated.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Trump-backed former boxer who is Poland's new president
Karol Nawrocki, a political novice backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), has won a surprise victory in Poland's presidential election. Mr Nawrocki won 50.89 per cent of the vote, edging out centrist candidate Rafał Trzaskowski who picked up 49.11 per cent. The 42-year-old trailed Mr Trzaskowski for much of the campaign but surged ahead in the second round after hard-right candidates dropped out, consolidating the nationalist vote. A former amateur boxer with a colourful past, Mr Nawrocki has close ties to the Trump White House and is likely to ruffle feathers in neighbouring capitals with his strident 'Poland First' views. His victory is expected to prolong the political deadlock at home, following outgoing president Andrzej Duda's refusal to approve Prime Minister Donald Tusk's plans to liberalise abortion laws and reform the judiciary. Mr Nawrocki, a trained historian, has drawn particular controversy for his stance on Ukraine. He has pledged to block its bids to join Nato and the EU, citing unresolved grievances dating back to the Second World War. Referring to a 1943 massacre of Poles by Ukrainian militias, Mr Nawrocki said: 'A country that cannot answer for a brutal crime against 120,000 of its neighbours cannot be part of international alliances.' However, his victory does not signal a softening towards Russia. As head of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, he oversaw the removal of Soviet-era Red Army monuments, prompting the Kremlin to place him on a 'wanted' list. At home, Mr Nawrocki secured support from trade unions and social conservatives. He pledged to protect the minimum wage and defend Christian values, opposing liberal calls to remove crosses from public buildings. He also won the endorsement of Poland's largest union, Solidarity, by vowing to shield coal miners from EU climate regulations. Abroad, he is backed by the likes of Mr Trump and Hungary's autocratic leader Viktor Orbán. Mr Trump met with Mr Nawrocki earlier this month at the White House and sent his Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to a meeting of the conservative pressure group – the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) – in Poland where she offered a strong endorsement. Ms Noem even dangled the prospect of closer US-Polish military ties in the event of a Mr Nawrocki win, with the implied warning that a Trzaskowski victory could jeopardise Poland's security. Mr Orbán, who maintains close Kremlin ties, also gave his support to Mr Nawrocki at a CPAC meeting in Budapest on Thursday. His win is likely to strain relations with Berlin, however, after he renewed PiS's call for wartime reparations from Germany, an issue that has long soured ties across the Oder river. Despite his success, Mr Nawrocki's campaign was dogged by scandal. Former colleagues from his days as a doorman at a five-star hotel accused him of procuring prostitutes for guests, a claim he vehemently denied. He was also caught using an alias to praise his own books on television and has been accused by Mr Tusk of having links to organised crime. Mr Nawrocki's campaign also admitted he was involved in a bare-knuckle mass brawl between rival football hooligans. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What to know about Karol Nawrocki, Poland's newly elected conservative president
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The final result of Poland's presidential election only became clear after a long, nail-gripping night of counting as both candidates were locked in a near dead heat in the first exit polls after voting ended. Poles awakened Monday to a clear albeit close result that returns a nationalist politician to the presidency who has pledged to hinder the centrist, pro-EU government for the remainder of its term. Here's what to know about Karol Nawrocki, Poland's newly elected conservative president: Trump backed him Nawrocki is a 42-year-old historian who had no political experience prior to the campaign and who was not even a party member until he was tapped by the conservative Law and Justice party that governed Poland from 2015 to 2023. Nawrocki heads the Institute of National Remembrance, which embraces nationalist historical narratives. He led efforts to topple monuments to the Soviet Red Army in Poland. Russia responded by putting him on a wanted list, according to Polish media reports. Nawrocki's supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic values. Many of them oppose abortion and LGBTQ+ visibility and say Nawrocki reflects the traditional values they grew up with. He was also the preferred favorite of U.S. President Donald Trump, with the American conservative group CPAC holding its first meeting in Poland last week during the campaign to give him a boost. Kristi Noem, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and a prominent Trump ally, strongly praised him and urged Poles to vote for him. His campaign echoed themes popular on the American right. A common refrain from his supporters is that Nawrocki will restore 'normality,' as they believe Trump has done. U.S. flags appeared at his rallies. Nawrocki performed better in the first round than expected, an indication he was underestimated in the polling. Nawrocki was linked to scandals Nawrocki's quick political rise has not been without controversy, with reports linking him to underworld figures whom he met while boxing or working as a hotel security guard in the past. Nawrocki has also been linked to a scandal involving the acquisition of a Gdansk apartment from an elderly pensioner named Jerzy. Allegations suggest Nawrocki promised to care for Jerzy in return but failed to fulfill the commitment, leading the man to end up in a publicly funded retirement home. His shifting explanations raised questions about his transparency and credibility. After the scandal erupted he donated the apartment to a charity. It recently emerged that Nawrocki took part in a 2009 Gdansk brawl involving about 140 rival soccer fans, some later convicted of crimes. Nawrocki described the fight as a form of 'noble' combat. Polish media have also reported on his connections to gangsters and the world of prostitution. His critics say all of these things make him unfit to represent Poland as the head of state but many right-wing voters don't believe the allegations and accuse the media of using its power to hurt him, creating what appears to be a rallying effect around him. It's unclear what effect, if any, these scandals had on the outcome of Sunday's result.
