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Epoch Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Poland Votes for New President in Pivotal Runoff Election
Citizens of Poland headed to the polls on June 1 for a presidential runoff election that could determine the nation's political path forward and future relationship with the European Union. Liberal pro-EU candidate and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski is facing off against Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian of the right-wing Law and Justice Party.
New Statesman
17 hours ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
What the world gets wrong about Poland's election
As the country heads to the polls for the second round of voting today (1 June), Poland is torn by two very different presidential candidates – the pro-European liberal Rafał Trzaskowski and the right-wing nationalist Karol Nawrocki. It's impossible to predict who might win. It is also increasingly difficult to ignore the growing disillusionment that Poles feel toward politics. Trzaskowski, who belongs to the Civic Coalition party and narrowly won the most votes in the first round of voting on 18 May, has been a firm supporter of the European Union and the strengthening of foreign ties. Though this position delights Poland's neighbours and the West, the sentiment is not shared by a large proportion of the electorate who have been sceptical of pro-EU candidates in the past (including current prime minister Donald Tusk). Such candidates tend to be branded pro-German and mocked at rallies as elitist or anti-Polish. The liberal mayor of Warsaw, Trzaskowski's support comes from the metropolitan-based, younger, professional classes. Yet his critics accuse him of selling out the country's sovereignty and undermining the Polish traditions and values that are closely linked to the Catholic church. In contrast to Trzaskowski, the nationalist historian Nawrocki has no political experience, despite being backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, which lost power under Donald Tusk's coalition. He's expressed admiration for Donald Trump's Maga agenda and currently heads the Institute of National Remembrance which embraces nationalist historical narratives — they reject Poland's involvement in the Holocaust under Nazi occupation, for example — and opposes publication of 'false information' that 'dishonours or harms the Polish nation'. His anti-Russian views combined with his pledge to block Ukraine's accession to Nato appeals to Trzaskowski's critics and could capture the votes that were cast for far-right politician Sławomir Mentzen in the first round of voting. Yet a shared beer between Mentzen and Trzaskowski, organised as part of Mentzen's YouTube coverage of the election, is thought to have shifted the support of the far-right politician's voters towards the mayor of Warsaw. Nawrocki hasn't expressed a strong position on many of the country's most pressing issues, like the predicted 289-billion-złoty (£57 billion) deficit for 2025 or immigration. Many of his opinions on topics like education and abortion mirror those of the Law and Justice party. Despite Trzaskowski narrowly winning the first round, it's impossible to say who will win the second vote. The final presidential debate, hosted by right-leaning Republika TV, took place on 28 May in the town of Końskie, though Trzaskowski made the bold move not to appear. (Trzaskowski lost in the 2020 election to Andrzej Duda after not turning up to the debate in Końskie; soon after the debate, Trzaskowski plummeted in the polls.) With both candidates neck-in-neck in the polls, the Polish media can't decide whether Trzaskowski has once again lost his shot at presidency, or whether he will break through the 'curse of Końskie'. In many ways, the real momentum in this election campaign has come from abroad. A record number of 695,000 expats are registered to vote on 1 June, perhaps motivated by the fact that in Poland, presidents have a formal role in foreign and defence policies. A Trzaskowski win could establish Poland as a key player on the European stage and, as a Tusk ally, he could also aid the prime minister's progressive reform. A Nawrocki win, meanwhile, could lead to the disengagement with the European Union on all matters excluding trade and potentially block Ukraine's ascension into Nato. His stance on Poland reaching Net Zero by 2050 will also have an impact on the EU's climate change policies. Yet this international excitement barely ripples over the Polish public. The truth is, neither candidate is likely to have a ground-shaking impact on the lives of the electorate. A Trzaskowski win would likely bring with it an initial burst of hope, which is almost certain to grow into disillusionment over his often-contradictory positions on the LGBTQ rights, immigration and healthcare. A Nawrocki win, on the other hand, would likely isolate younger, progressive voters by prioritising the country's frustrated right-wing. Nawrocki's victory could cause a further spike in emigration among young people — already a long-running problem in Poland — as the historian looks to hinder Donald Tusk's progressive agenda. Neither candidate presents solutions to the most pressing issues that divide the country, such as the influx of migrants crossing the Poland-Belarus border, the continuing war in Ukraine and inflation. It's no surprise that turn out is now predicted to be just over 50 per cent in the second round. Rather than uniting, the political promises of this election campaign have only disillusioned the country more. [See also: Sanction Netanyahu's cabinet ultras now] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The future of Europe will be decided in this election
Poland's presidential elections are slated to have a nail-biting conclusion. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzakowski narrowly triumphed in the first round on May 18 but his once significant polling lead in the second runoff vanished in the final days. Independent candidate Karol Nawrocki is nipping at his heels and has the momentum heading into election day on June 1. The clash between Trzakowski and Nawrocki is much more than a standard fare liberal-conservative rivalry. It is a contest that has seismic implications for Polish society and the balance of political forces in Europe. A Trzakowski victory would reinforce pro-European solidarity and weaken the Nawrocki-aligned Law and Justice Party (PiS)'s crusade against the EU's normative agenda. A Nawrocki victory would be a triumph for Polish nationalism and provide President Donald Trump's MAGA movement with a stalwart ally on Nato's eastern flank. As the election campaign draws to a close, social issues have been a critical wedge between the two candidates. Trzakowski's campaign has channelled liberal frustrations with the PiS's less-than-inclusive stance on LGBTQ+ rights and support for a near-complete abortion ban. These stances align firmly with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's agenda and provide him with an ally to implement progressive legislation. Nawrocki has mocked Trzakowski's liberal leanings by placing the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag on his lectern and extolled his commitment to Christian values. While it is unclear how his conservative ideological leanings will convert into policy, Nawrocki is almost certain to continue President Andrzej Duda's obstructionism of Tusk's progressive vision. The stakes for Poland's position within the Trans-Atlantic network are equally stark. Since Trump's return to the White House, Tusk has towed a delicate line between EU and US perspectives on continental security. Tusk has emphasised European self-sufficiency in the defence sector and supported Poland's pursuit of an autonomous nuclear deterrent. On March 31, Tusk signed a $2 billion agreement with the US for training and logistical support for its Patriot missile defence program. Poland's two presidential frontrunners favour a lean-to-one-side approach to the EU-US chasm. Trzakowski will seek to end the PiS-era normative disputes with the EU over the rule of law, migration and LGBTQ+ rights. In addition to securing EU funding, Trzakowski will also champion Ukraine's entry into Nato. This stance clashes with Trump's aversion to Ukrainian Nato membership and Nawrocki's insistence that Ukraine can only join the alliance if it accepts guilt for the World War II-era genocide against Poles in Volhynia. Nawrocki has built on the Trump administration's overt sympathy for right-wing populist candidates and forged robust alliances on the American right. On May 2, Nawrocki met with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at The White House. At the May 27 CPAC Poland conference, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declared 'Donald Trump is a strong leader for us but has an opportunity to have just as strong of a leader in Karol if you make him leader of this country.' Due to their diametrically opposed visions and the emotionally charged nature of the campaign, the Polish elections have witnessed the same kind of warnings about anti-democratic behaviour as we recently saw in Romania. According to Poland's state anti-disinformation watchdog NASK, a foreign-funded NGO has used Meta to promote pro-Trzakowski and anti-Nawrocki messages. Nawrocki has accused Trzakowski of soliciting funding from Germany and billionaire George Soros, and Trzakowski has threatened litigation in response to these allegations. Poland's national cybersecurity authorities have retorted with warnings about Russian interference in the Polish elections. Russian information warriors falsified Ukrainian House correspondences about organising a pro-Trzakowksi election rally and have linked Trzakowski to the much-despised Nazi-aligned Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera. Just like how pro-Kremlin TikTok influencers enabled Calin Georgescu's implausible rise in Romania, Russian-aligned cyberwarriors are providing unwitting support for Nawrocki's insurgent campaign. The heated debates about the state of Polish democracy feed into disagreements about Poland's foreign policy orientation. The laser focus of pro-EU organisations on Russian disinformation and the European Commission's silence about Trzakowski's foreign-backed NGO ally is striking. US House Foreign Relations Committee chair Brian Mast's castigation of EU favouritism for Trzakowski and willingness to gloss over the Russian disinformation threat is equally noteworthy. As millions of Poles arrive at their polling stations on June 1, there is much more than a presidential pick on the ballot. Depending on the outcome, Tusk's liberal pro-EU agenda could be empowered or derailed across the continent. 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.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Rivals neck-and-neck ahead of Poland's 'clash of civilisations' vote
Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and a nationalist historian held their last day of campaigning on Friday for Poland's presidency, with opinion polls predicting a close race in Sunday's vote, which will determine the direction of the key central European EU and NATO member. Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki, 42, in a runoff vote some analysts have described as a "clash of civilisations". Latest opinion polls predict a close race, with 50.6 percent of the vote going to Trzaskowski and 49.4 percent to Nawrocki, a tiny difference within the margin of error. A victory for Trzaskowski would be a major boost for Poland's government, which has been in a political deadlock with the current president. It could also mean significant changes such as the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples and an easing of Poland's near-total ban on abortion. A win for Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, could undermine Poland's steadfast support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia. Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, opposes NATO membership for Kyiv and has called for curbs on benefits for the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Analysts say a Nawrocki victory could also lead to fresh parliamentary elections in the country of 38 million people, which has been one of Europe's best economic performers. Given the narrow polling margins, the result of the election may not be known until Monday. "I would be cautious about popping the champagne on Sunday evening," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political expert. Tens of thousands of supporters took part in rival rallies for both candidates on May 25, a week before the runoff. - Counting on turnout - At one of his last campaign events, Trzaskowski called for full mobilisation among his supporters, recalling the record turnout of over 74 percent in the 2023 general election that brought the centrists to power. "If participation is as high as in 2023... we will win these presidential elections," Trzaskowski said Friday in the northern town of Chojnice. He said there would be "chaos" with Nawrocki as president. Nawrocki for his part used his last campaign hours to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. "It was a genocide against the Polish people," he said, adding: "I will be the president of your future. The past and the future can be reunited." Poland, a staunch Ukraine ally since Russia's invasion, wants Kyiv to admit responsibility for the Volyn massacres, in which around 100,000 Poles died between 1943 and 1945. - Far-right voters - The election's final result is expected to hinge on whether Trzaskowski can mobilise enough supporters to come out and vote and whether far-right voters will cast their ballots for Nawrocki. Far-right candidates fared better than expected in the first round of the election on May 18, getting more than 21 percent of the vote -- and leaving Nawrocki a larger pool of votes to draw upon. Trzaskowski won that round by a razor-thin margin of 31 percent against 30 percent for Nawrocki. Materska-Sosnowska called the election "a real clash of civilisations", pointing to major policy differences between the candidates on issues including abortion or LGBTQ rights. The job of Polish president is sometimes dismissed as a ceremonial post, but it comes with crucial veto power over legislation. And that has often stymied Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council chief whose centrist Civic Coalition (KO) has clashed on multiple fronts with conservative President Andrzej Duda since it came to power in 2023. The election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to own just one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rivals neck-and-neck ahead of Poland's 'clash of civilisations' vote
Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and a nationalist historian held their last day of campaigning on Friday for Poland's presidency, with opinion polls predicting a close race in Sunday's vote, which will determine the direction of the key central European EU and NATO member. Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki, 42, in a runoff vote some analysts have described as a "clash of civilisations". Latest opinion polls predict a close race, with 50.6 percent of the vote going to Trzaskowski and 49.4 percent to Nawrocki, a tiny difference within the margin of error. A victory for Trzaskowski would be a major boost for Poland's government, which has been in a political deadlock with the current president. It could also mean significant changes such as the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples and an easing of Poland's near-total ban on abortion. A win for Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, could undermine Poland's steadfast support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia. Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, opposes NATO membership for Kyiv and has called for curbs on benefits for the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Analysts say a Nawrocki victory could also lead to fresh parliamentary elections in the country of 38 million people, which has been one of Europe's best economic performers. Given the narrow polling margins, the result of the election may not be known until Monday. "I would be cautious about popping the champagne on Sunday evening," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political expert. Tens of thousands of supporters took part in rival rallies for both candidates on May 25, a week before the runoff. - Counting on turnout - At one of his last campaign events, Trzaskowski called for full mobilisation among his supporters, recalling the record turnout of over 74 percent in the 2023 general election that brought the centrists to power. "If participation is as high as in 2023... we will win these presidential elections," Trzaskowski said Friday in the northern town of Chojnice. He said there would be "chaos" with Nawrocki as president. Nawrocki for his part used his last campaign hours to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. "It was a genocide against the Polish people," he said, adding: "I will be the president of your future. The past and the future can be reunited." Poland, a staunch Ukraine ally since Russia's invasion, wants Kyiv to admit responsibility for the Volyn massacres, in which around 100,000 Poles died between 1943 and 1945. - Far-right voters - The election's final result is expected to hinge on whether Trzaskowski can mobilise enough supporters to come out and vote and whether far-right voters will cast their ballots for Nawrocki. Far-right candidates fared better than expected in the first round of the election on May 18, getting more than 21 percent of the vote -- and leaving Nawrocki a larger pool of votes to draw upon. Trzaskowski won that round by a razor-thin margin of 31 percent against 30 percent for Nawrocki. Materska-Sosnowska called the election "a real clash of civilisations", pointing to major policy differences between the candidates on issues including abortion or LGBTQ rights. The job of Polish president is sometimes dismissed as a ceremonial post, but it comes with crucial veto power over legislation. And that has often stymied Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council chief whose centrist Civic Coalition (KO) has clashed on multiple fronts with conservative President Andrzej Duda since it came to power in 2023. The election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to own just one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard. Nawrocki called the accusations "a bunch of lies" and said he would sue the news site that published the report. bur/amj/js
