Latest news with #PatrioticMarch
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland's ruling party candidate leads opinion poll ahead of Sunday vote
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, speaks as he attends \"Patriotic March\" organised by the ruling party, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. Agencja Atys via REUTERS/ File Photo WARSAW - The candidate from Poland's ruling Civic Coalition (KO), Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, leads nationalist Karol Nawrocki in popularity ahead of Sunday's second round of the presidential election, a poll by Ipsos for the website showed on Thursday. According to the poll, Trzaskowski would get 48% of votes and Nawrocki 47%, while 5% were undecided. Trzaskowski, from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's ruling KO, came ahead of Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the conservative-nationalist PiS, in the first round of the presidential election, 31.4% to 29.5%, a much narrower gap than opinion polls had suggested. The following is a summary of the most recent poll results (figures in %): Date Poll by 29.05 48.0 47.0 Ipsos 29.05 47.7 46.0 IBRiS 28.05 47.4 45.0 United Surveys 28.05 47.5 45.9 Opinia24 27.05 45.7 44.9 IBRiS 26.05 47.0 46.0 Opinia24 26.05 45.7 43.6 Pollster 26.05 45.7 44.9 IBRiS 23.05 47.0 47.0 Ipsos 22.05 45.0 47.0 Opinia24 REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland's pro-European course is at stake in presidential election run-off
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, attends the \"Patriotic March\" organised by the ruling party, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo Poland's pro-European course is at stake in presidential election run-off WARSAW - Poland holds a presidential election run-off on Sunday, with the ruling party's candidate, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, facing nationalist Karol Nawrocki, in a vote crucial for the country's pro-European course. Prime Minister Donald Tusk swept to power in 2023 with a broad alliance of leftist and centrist parties, on a promise to undo changes made by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government that the European Union said had undermined democracy and women's and minority rights. However, reforms have been slow, mainly because - the government contends - Poland's outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, has been vetoing bills. Below are the key issues at stake in the presidential contest. SOCIAL ISSUES Tusk won the 2023 parliamentary vote partly on promises to end a near-total ban on abortion introduced by the socially conservative PiS government. Tusk and the Left promised to allow abortion on demand until 12 weeks and restore the right to termination in case of foetal abnormalities, but the coalition was unable to agree on a bill. It also argued that Duda would veto any liberalisation. Nawrocki has said he would not sign any bill liberalising the right to abortion, even in the case of foetal abnormalities. Trzaskowski has promised to fight for women's rights and to back a bill that would liberalise "this medieval abortion law". Trzaskowski is also in favour of a bill on same-sex unions while Nawrocki has said he would not sign such legislation. Seeking to lure voters both from the Left as well as pro-market liberals, Trzaskowski has vowed to support affordable housing initiatives while getting rid of red tape for small businesses on the other. RULE OF LAW During its two terms in government from 2015 to 2023, PiS introduced a series of judicial reforms which Brussels said undermined the rule of law and critics blamed for chaos in the judiciary. The European Union's top court ruled that a new procedure for appointing judges did not guarantee their impartiality, opening the way for their rulings to be questioned. The Constitutional Tribunal issued rulings stating that Poland's constitution had primacy over EU law, undermining a key principle of the Union. Brussels took Poland to court over the ruling, and the current government does not recognise it. However, Tusk's efforts to roll back the changes have so far failed, blocked by Duda who keeps appointing judges under PiS rules. Nawrocki has signalled he supports PiS's changes, suggesting that the deadlock would continue if he wins, while Trzaskowski would support the government's efforts to reverse them. Duda also blocked the government's efforts to bring PiS politicians to justice, pardoning two members of the former government sentenced for abuse of power in their previous roles. Critics have said Nawrocki could come under pressure from PiS to pardon its politicians. Trzaskowski said he would not pardon any politicians convicted of wrongdoing. UKRAINE While Nawrocki supports giving military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia's invasion, he is opposed to Kyiv joining Western alliances such as NATO. Nawrocki rejects suggestions that his stance is pro-Russian, while also saying that Poland has the right to raise sensitive issues with Kyiv such as exhumations of the remains of Polish victims killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War Two. Trzaskowski says it is in Poland's own interests that Ukraine becomes a NATO member. EUROPEAN UNION Nawrocki vows to resist what he sees as efforts by Tusk and Trzaskowski to promote a European super-state, cede Polish national prerogatives to Brussels and undermine the country's security relationship with the United States. Trzaskowski says his strongly pro-EU stance will boost Poland's influence in Brussels and that this will translate into benefits including more funds for Polish security. Both candidates support the Trump administration's demand for Europeans to spend much more on defence - Poland spends almost 5% of national output on defence, the highest level in NATO - but Nawrocki prioritises closer security ties with the U.S., while Trzaskowski favours a greater European focus. AFTER THE ELECTION A win on Sunday for Nawrocki would undermine Tusk's political project and could be a prelude to the return of PiS to power in 2027 or even earlier if the ruling centrist coalition crumbles and a snap election is held. Victory for Trzaskowski would mean Tusk's coalition has an ally in the presidential palace, enabling it to streamline key legislation and also to move forward on some foreign policy issues, including nominating new ambassadors. Regardless of the outcome, Tusk has said he wants to renegotiate the coalition agreement and reshuffle his team after the presidential election to make it leaner and more efficient. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland's high-stakes presidential vote pits pro-EU centrist against MAGA nationalist
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, speaks as he attends \"Patriotic March\" organised by the ruling party, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. Agencja Atys via REUTERS/File Photo WARSAW - Poles vote in a closely fought presidential election run-off on Sunday that pits the centrist, pro-European ruling party's candidate against a nationalist challenger who draws inspiration from U.S. President Donald Trump. Opinion polls show Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) narrowly leading Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, ahead of the June 1 second round, which will have consequences for EU ties and relations with Ukraine. The two candidates embody contrasting visions of Poland's international relations, security strategy and social policies. Trzaskowski, 53, the Oxford-educated son of a jazz musician, champions a liberal agenda that stresses the importance of women's rights and strong ties with the European Union and NATO. Nawrocki, 42, a historian who has been endorsed by the Trump administration, has positioned himself as a newcomer with no political baggage. He wants Poland to follow a path inspired by Trump and regards Washington as Warsaw's key ally, not Brussels. Julia Szwoch, a 25-year-old student of pedagogy from the northern port city of Gdansk, said she would back Trzaskowski in Sunday's run-off vote. "I want to live in a Poland that is inclusive and takes into account the needs of all people," she said. In contrast, Michal Diug, 21, an electrotechnology student, said he would probably back Nawrocki "so there isn't a monopoly of power" at the top of the Polish state. Trzaskowski has promised "peaceful cooperation" with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and to help undo changes to Poland's judiciary under PiS that critics in the EU and at home said had eroded democratic checks and balances. In the October 2023 election, PiS lost its parliamentary majority to Tusk's coalition after eight years in power, amid widespread public dissatisfaction over PiS's record on women's and minority rights. However, Poland's outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, has used his veto power to block many of Tusk's reforms and Nawrocki vows to do the same, describing the election as a referendum on the government. "If my opponent, Karol Nawrocki, wins there will be only chaos," Trzaskowski told a mass rally in Warsaw last Sunday. Trzaskowski faces a tricky balancing act ahead of the second round. He wants to appeal both to supporters of the far-right Confederation, whose candidate placed third in the first round, and to progressives disappointed with Tusk's government. He has said he is against accepting more refugees after Poland took in almost a million Ukrainians fleeing the war next door, but remains committed to liberalising abortion laws. "We have to go wide," said Dorota Loboda, a Trzaskowski campaign team member. CONSERVATIVE VOICE Nawrocki said that after years of what he calls "mistakes", including energy dependence on Russia and the EU climate pact, Europe needs "a strong, conservative voice, also from Poland". "I will make sure that Poland becomes the leader of the European Union in transatlantic relations. We have the best cards for this," he told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Poland on Tuesday. His campaign has been characterized by nationalist rhetoric and a focus on traditional values. Nawrocki opposes abortion and aims to keep coal mines operating until Poland develops its own nuclear energy. He opposes EU migration policies. Although Nawrocki says he favours continued Polish support for Ukraine's war effort, he says he would not ratify any application by Kyiv to join NATO. Trzaskowski argues that Poland's own safety depends on Ukraine joining NATO. Nawrocki has faced allegations about his past in liberal media outlets, including a report that he lied about owning a second property and that he acquired it from an elderly man in return for a promise of care which he did not provide. He has denied any wrongdoing. Trzaskowski has faced questions over whether a series of advertisements criticising his opponents subverted campaign spending rules. He also denies any wrongdoing. The election takes place against a backdrop of rising anti-establishment sentiment in Poland, with the far-right achieving their strongest ever showing. Pollsters expect far-right votes to go mainly to Nawrocki. "We can already see in these elections that these anti-establishment emotions are driven by a perception that the politicians have again failed to deliver," said Filip Pazderski, an analyst at the Stefan Batory Foundation. "The situation will become ever more difficult for the current government," said Pazderski, adding that if Tusk fails to deliver on his promises, existing tensions between coalition partners could intensify and a snap parliamentary election might become inevitable. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Democracy in focus as thousands march for Polish presidential candidates
Prime Minister Donald Tusk backs liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski to succeed President Duda, but Trzaskowski is trailing in polls despite narrowly beating nationalist Karol Nawrocki by two points in the first round on May 18. read more Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, attends "Patriotic March" organised by the ruling party, together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland. Reuters Tens of thousands of people marched through Warsaw on Sunday to demonstrate their support for candidates running in next week's hotly contested presidential election in Poland, which the government sees as critical to its democratic reform efforts. Prime Minister Donald Tusk seeks to rally support for his choice, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, to succeed outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a nationalist who has blocked several of his initiatives to reform the judiciary. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'All of Poland is looking at us. All of Europe is looking at us. The whole world is looking at us,' Trzaskowski told supporters waving red and white Polish and European Union flags. More from World Poland's presidential election heads to second round with unexpected contenders Tusk swept into power in 2023 with a broad alliance of leftist and centrist parties, on a promise to undo changes made by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government that the European Union said had undermined democracy and women's and minority rights. But Trzaskowski is struggling to secure a lead in opinion polls, after beating nationalist Karol Nawrocki by two percentage points in the first round of the election on May 18. Nawrocki's 'March for Poland' was due to end up at Castle Square in Warsaw's Old Town. Nawrocki's supporters, some wearing hats saying 'Poland is the most important', sang patriotic and religious songs and held up signs calling for an end to immigration. 'I am Polish and so I am voting for a candidate who will guarantee our future and act as a counterbalance to the current government,' said Piotr Slaby, a financial sector worker from the city of Przemysl in southeastern Poland. Piotr Nowak, a technician from Warsaw, 41, said: 'We have a cosmopolitan government. They want to introduce the euro and we will lose our sovereignty.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'He is the best candidate, the most patriotic, one who can guarantee that Poland is independent and sovereign,' said Jan Sulanowski, 42. Romanian president-elect Nicusor Dan, a pro-EU centrist who is due to be sworn in on Monday in his country, also attended the Trzaskowki march. Dan pledged to work closely with Tusk and Trzaskowski 'to ensure Poland and the European Union remain strong'. Dan's unexpected victory in a vote on May 18 over a hard-right Trump supporter was greeted with relief in Brussels and other parts of Europe, as many were concerned that his rival George Simion would have complicated EU's efforts to tackle Russia's war in Ukraine. Olivia, 20, a student who declined to give her last name, said she supported Trzaskowski 'above all because he wants to protect LGBTQ people and women's rights on the issue of abortion'. Trzaskowski, who is married with two children, has vowed to campaign for women's rights and legalise abortion in the predominantly Catholic country, which has a near-total ban on the procedure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Rival marches draw thousands in Warsaw ahead of presidential vote
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is shown on screen as he speaks on the day of the \"Patriotic March\" organised by the ruling party, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate supported by the main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), attends a march with his supporters ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland May 25, 2025. Agencja Kowalewski via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Supporters attend a march organised by Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate supported by the main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, speaks during rally after a final debate, in front of the Polish Television building in Warsaw, Poland, May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition, attends \"Patriotic March\" organised by the ruling party, together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. Agencja Zuchowicz via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND. WARSAW - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Warsaw on Sunday to show support for candidates vying to win next week's tightly-contested presidential election in Poland that the government views as crucial to is efforts for democratic reform. Prime Minister Donald Tusk hopes to galvanise support for his candidate, the liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, to replace the outgoing Andrzej Duda, a nationalist who has vetoed many of his efforts to reform the judiciary. "All of Poland is looking at us. All of Europe is looking at us. The whole world is looking at us," Trzaskowski told supporters who waved red and white Polish flag and European Union flags. Tusk swept into power in 2023 with a broad alliance of leftist and centrist parties, on a promise to undo changes made by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government that the European Union said had undermined democracy and women's and minority rights. But Trzaskowski is struggling to secure a lead in opinion polls, after beating nationalist Karol Nawrocki by two percentage points in the first round of the election on May 18. Nawrocki's voters, some wearing hats saying "Poland is the most important", gathered in a different part of the capital on Sunday to show support for his drive to align Poland more closely with U.S. President Donald Trump's policies. "He is the best candidate, the most patriotic, one who can guarantee that Poland is independent and sovereign," said Jan Sulanowski, 42. At Trzaskowski's march, the newly-elected president of Romania Nicusor Dan pledged to work closely with Tusk and Trzaskowski "to ensure Poland and the European Union remain strong". Dan's unexpected victory in a vote on May 18 over a hard-right Trump supporter was greeted with relief in Brussels and other parts of Europe, as many were concerned that his rival George Simion would have complicated EU's efforts to tackle Russia's war in Ukraine. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
