Latest news with #PKW
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Poles on Nawrocki and Tusk's cooperation: 'two different worlds'
At a press conference in Vilnius on Monday, President Andrzej Duda commented for the first time on the results of the second round of the presidential election. "I hope that for Prime Minister Tusk and the government, this is an unambiguous signal from the Poles that they expect the kind of policy in their majority that the President-elect proposes and that Karol Nawrocki preached during his campaign," said the President. Both candidates, in their post-election speeches, declared their intention to build bridges in a divided society. Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the Law and Justice Party, remained hopeful after the exit poll results—and his optimism proved justified, as later polls and the official results from the State Electoral Commission confirmed his victory. "I believe that tomorrow we will wake up with our President Karol Nawrocki, who will put together a half-crawled Poland," praised the PiS-backed candidate. Rafał Trzaskowski, after exit polls suggested he was winning, said he would be the president of all Poles. "I believe that the first, most important task of the president of Poland will be to reach out to all those who did not vote for me," he said. At Monday's conference, PKW chairman Sylwester Marciniak officially announced that Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki received 10,606,877 valid votes, while Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski got 10,237,286. The difference between them was fewer than 370,000 votes, or 1.78 percentage points – the smallest gap in a presidential run-off since 1989. This shows how deeply divided society is and suggests possible political instability. Will relations between Donald Tusk's government and the new president-elect improve? We asked the people of Warsaw. "They are on opposite sides and don't agree. But Nawrocki is a big unknown. Also, nobody knows anything," said one passer-by. Another Warsaw resident toned down the mood: "We need to cool down first. Is it even possible to arrange something? I hope, however, that wisdom will win out and somehow these relations will settle down. And this nation will not be as divided as it is at the moment." "There is no agreement between the government and the president. There are two different worlds: the Polish world and the German world," another man commented. And his companion referred to Karol Nawrocki's passion for sport: "He has religious values and is a boxer. And a boxer will box." "It looks as if the new president Nawrocki was elected almost on demand, so that the coalition can complain for the next five years about how they can't get anything done because the president closes the door in front of their noses," commented, in turn, a Pole who has lived in the UK for twenty years. "I'm not Polish, but I think the situation is very bad and it's going to be super hard," a young Belarusian citizen who lives permanently in Poland told Euronews. Two days after the first round of the presidential election, Donald Tusk announced the renegotiation of the coalition agreement and the reconstruction of the government, which was to take place after the election of the president. "The atmosphere has to cool down after the elections. I am not saying it will be next year, but in June I will already be back calmly from talks with my coalition partners. Not to take anything away from them, but to make this government smaller – although in good proportions for everyone – and much more efficient," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during an interview with TVP. In a televised speech later on Monday, he announced his intention to hold a confidence vote in parliament without giving any more details. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said he would ask parliament to hold a vote of confidence in his coalition government after his ally, the liberal Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, lost Sunday's presidential runoff. Conservative Karol Nawrocki won the election, finishing with 50.89% of the vote. "Regardless of how we evaluate the winning candidate, we should acknowledge his victory and congratulate his voters," Tusk said in a televised speech on Monday. "I want to declare to you that I will not stop for a moment as prime minister of our government. The presidential elections have not changed anything here and will not change anything. We will cooperate with the new president where necessary and possible." The result leaves Tusk politically weakened and there are questions about whether his multi-party coalition can survive to the end of its term in late 2027. If he survives the confidence vote, it would show he still has a mandate to govern. It is not clear when the confidence vote might take place. Nawrocki will succeed conservative Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term ends on 6 August. The close ballot had the country on edge since a first round two weeks earlier revealed deep divisions along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union. Although most day-to-day power lies in Poland lies with the prime minister, the president is able to influence foreign policy and, crucially, veto legislation. Tusk, who came to power in late 2023 with a coalition government with a broad ideological divide, has been unable to muster enough support to fulfil certain electoral promises such as easing abortion law. He is expected to face further obstacles with Nawrocki as president. The 42-year-old amateur boxer and political novice is supported by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński appealed on Monday to all political forces to support the formation of a technocratic government. "Today we need a solution in the form of a technical government, which, like the president, will be non-partisan. The head of this government must be selected in talks with those who would be ready to support such a project. It would not have to be someone who has ties to us," he said. "Individual ministries would be managed by specialists in specific areas of social life."
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Karol Nawrocki Elected New Poland's President
Rana Atef Historian Karol Nawrocki was elected Poland's new president, the state electoral commission (PKW) announced on Monday. PKW said Nawrocki won 50.9% percent of the votes, ahead of Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski on 49.1%. The final results declared Nawrocki the victor, whose first exit poll results were only 49.7%. Trzaskowski had claimed victory after the first exit poll. "We won, although the phrase 'razor's edge' will forever enter the Polish language and politics," Trzaskowski said after the first exit poll. On the other hand, Nawrocki waited for the final results, calling to his supporters, "Let's not lose hope for this night. We will win during the night, the difference is minimal. I believe that we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki." read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Conservative historian wins Polish presidential vote
INA- sources With all votes counted, Right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki has been elected Poland's new president, the state electoral commission (PKW) said. PKW said Nawrocki won 50.9% percent of the votes – ahead of Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski on 49.1% percent. It's a sensational turnaround from the result of the first exit poll – published immediately after voting ended at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Sunday – that showed Trzaskowski winning on 50.3% to Nawrocki's 49.7%. Trzaskowski had claimed victory after the first exit poll, while Nawrocki cautioned that the results were too close to call. "We won, although the phrase 'razor's edge' will forever enter the Polish language and politics," Trzaskowski told his supporters. His wife, Malgorzata, jokingly told the crowd, "I'm close to having a heart attack". Nawrocki, had said after the result of the first exit poll, "Let's not lose hope for this night. We will win during the night, the difference is minimal. I believe that we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki." As Poland's new president, Nawrocki is likely to continue to use his presidential power of veto to block Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU programme. The result is also likely also re-energise Nawrocki's supporters, the national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) opposition, which lost power eighteen months ago, giving them renewed belief they will be able to defeat Tusk's coalition in 2027 parliamentary elections. Nawrocki supports traditional Catholic and family values and is a strong supporter of Polish sovereignty within the EU. He backs continued support for Ukraine, but has said he does not want to see the country joining NATO and the EU during Russia's ongoing aggression. Poland's president is a largely ceremonial role with limited influence on foreign policy and defence, but the president can veto legislation. Tusk's pro-EU coalition government lacks a large enough parliamentary majority to overturn it. The current conservative incumbent president, Andrzej Duda, has used his powers to prevent Prime Minister Tusk delivering key campaign promises, including removing political influence from the judiciary and liberalising the country's strict abortion law. Both presidential candidates support continued assistance for neighbouring Ukraine, but they differ over their approach to the EU. Trzaskowski, a former Europe minister, supports Tusk's vision of a Poland at the heart of the European mainstream, influencing decisions through strong relations with Germany and France. Nawrocki, 42, supports a strong sovereign Poland and does not want the country to cede any more powers to Brussels. He opposes the EU's climate and migration policies. He was relatively unknown nationally before he was selected by opposition party PiS to be their "unofficial" candidate. A keen amateur boxer and footballer, he often posts images of himself working out. PiS presented him as a strong candidate who would stand up for ordinary Poles and the country's national interests. A fan of President Donald Trump, he flew to Washington during the Polish election campaign for an extremely brief meeting – and to get a thumbs-up photo of himself with Trump in the Oval Office.
Euronews
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Polish presidential elections 2025 - who's ahead in the polls?
After the first ballot on 18 May, candidates Rafal Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki have advanced to the second round of the Polish presidential election. The race is expected to be tight, with both candidates going head to head according to the latest polls. So who is expected to win and what exactly do the latest polls show? According to the latest aggregation of polls, Karol Nawrocki and Rafal Trzaskowski are tied, with both receiving 46.3% support. Trzaskowski, who also ran in Poland's last presidential election, lost narrowly to incumbent Andrzej Duda at the time, winning 48.97% of the vote compared to Duda's 51.03%. In the first round of this year's presidential election, Trzaskowski won by a narrow margin, winning 31.36% of the vote, closely followed by Nawrocki with 29.54% of the vote. A key focus for the candidates running in the second round will be seeking the votes of those who chose other candidates during the first ballot. Candidates from the most right-wing parties Slawomir Mentzen and Grzegorz Braun won 14.8% and 6.34% of the vote respectively. According to experts, it is their supporters who may decide the outcome of the second round. Recently, both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki met Mentzen to discuss their views on his YouTube channel. The election will be a critical moment for the current governing coalition, which is struggling to introduce reforms in the face of President Andrzej Duda's conservative opposition. He is currently serving his second term and is therefore ineligible for re-election. The election results will determine the ability of the incumbent coalition government to make important decisions on key issues in the country, such as civil partnerships and abortion rights, but also migration and national defence. The second round of the presidential election will take place on 1 June. After they are completed, the results will be published by the State Electoral Commission (PKW). The winner will hold office for a period of five years, after which he or she will be eligible to run for a second term. The president-elect will take office before a joint session of the Sejm and Senate on 6 August. A massive Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other regions in the country for a second consecutive night, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens, officials said early Sunday. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia hit the country with 367 drones and missiles, making this the largest single aerial attack of the more than three-year-long war. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, said that in all, Russia used 69 missiles of various types and 298 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying that Russian missiles and drones struck more than 30 cities and villages across Ukraine. Zelenskyy wrote on X that Sunday's targets included Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy regions and urged Western partners to ramp up sanctions on Russia. 'These were deliberate strikes on ordinary cities. Ordinary residential buildings were destroyed and damaged,' he said. 'Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped. Sanctions will certainly help,' Zelenskyy said. At least four people, including three children, were killed in Kyiv and 16 were injured, according to Ukraine's security service. Another four people were killed in the Khmelnytskyi region, in western Ukraine. One man was killed in the Mykolaiv region, in southern Ukraine, local officials said. The attacks over the past 48 hours were among the most intense Russian aerial strikes on Ukraine since the February 2022 full-scale invasion. 'A difficult Sunday morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night. The most massive Russian air attack in many weeks lasted all night,' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X. Fires broke out in homes and businesses, set off by falling drone debris. The attack came on the third day of the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, the only tangible outcome from peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month that have so far failed to produce a ceasefire. And even as the exchange amounted to a rare moment of cooperation between the warring sides, battles have continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometre front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry on Sunday claimed it shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight, with authorities forced to shut down airports across several cities, including Moscow's airport. The airports at Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky in Moscow have also temporarily ceased operations, local media reported. Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, claimed Russian air defence destroyed six drones that were "flying toward Moscow."
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Polish presidential candidates to face off in second round
Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and nationalist Karol Nawrocki will compete in a second round of the presidential election in Poland on 1 June, near-total voting results from the electoral commission (PKW) have showed. The commission published data from 99.7% of voting districts by provinces at 6.52am Irish time, but did not give an overall result. The data shows Mr Trzaskowski and Mr Nawrocki being well ahead of other candidates in 13 of 16 provinces. An Ipsos late exit poll from the first round yesterday showed Mr Trzaskowski placed first with 31.2% of the vote, ahead of Mr Nawrocki, who had 29.7%. The gap was much narrower than the 4-7 percentage points seen in opinion polls before the vote. "We are going for victory. I said that it would be close and it is close," Mr Trzaskowski told supporters. "There is a lot, a lot, of work ahead of us and we need determination." Mr Nawrocki also told supporters he was confident of victory in the second round and called on the far-right to get behind him and "save Poland." "We have to win these elections so that there is no monopoly of power of one political group, so that there is no monolithic power in Poland," he said. An Opinia24 poll for private broadcaster TVN published after the first round gave Mr Trzaskowski 46% in the run-off and Mr Nawrocki 44%, with 10% of voters either undecided or refusing to say. Far-right candidates Slawomir Mentzen and Grzegorz Braun scored more than 21% combined, a historically high score. Mr Braun, who in 2023 used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament, an incident that caused international outrage, won 6.3% of the vote according to the late poll. Mr Mentzen stopped short of immediately endorsing Mr Nawrocki. "Voters... are not sacks of potatoes, they are not thrown from one place to another," he said. "Each of our voters is a conscious, intelligent person and will make their own decision." Stanley Bill, Professor of Polish Studies at the University of Cambridge, said the combined strong showing of nationalist and far-right parties meant the results were "a disappointment for the Trzaskowski camp and put wind in the sails of Nawrocki." "I would add to this that the results are a significant blow to Donald Tusk's ruling coalition," Mr Bill added. Turnout was 66.8% according to the late poll. Presidential veto In Poland, the president has the power to veto laws. A victory for Mr Trzaskowski in the second round would enable Mr Tusk's government to implement an agenda that includes rolling back judicial reforms introduced by PiS that critics say undermined the independence of the courts. However, if Mr Nawrocki wins, the impasse that has existed since Mr Tusk became prime minister in 2023 would be set to continue. Until now, PiS-ally President Andrzej Duda has stymied Mr Tusk's efforts. If the late poll is confirmed, the other candidates in the first round, including Mr Mentzen from the far-right Confederation Party, Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Poland 2050 and Magdalena Biejat from the Left, will be eliminated. One more updated poll that takes into account partial official results will be published later during the night. Role in Europe Mr Trzaskowski has pledged to cement Poland's role as a major player at the heart of European policymaking and work with the government to roll back PiS's judicial changes. Mr Nawrocki's campaign was rocked by allegations, which he denies, that he deceived an elderly man into selling him a flat in return for a promise of care he did not provide. But Mr Trump showed support by meeting Mr Nawrocki in the White House. Mr Nawrocki casts the election as a chance to stop Mr Tusk achieving unchecked power and push back against liberal values represented by Mr Trzaskowski, who as Warsaw mayor was a patron of LGBT marches and took down Christian crosses from public buildings. Unlike some other eurosceptics in central Europe, Mr Nawrocki supports military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia. However, he has tapped into anti-Ukrainian sentiment among some Poles weary of an influx of refugees from their neighbour. He has said Polish citizens should get priority in public services and criticised Ukraine's attitude to exhumations of the remains of Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II.
