Latest news with #Trzaskowski
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Poland's Trzaskowski on course for tight presidential election win
Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski appeared set for a razor-thin win in Poland's presidential election on Sunday, an exit poll showed, in a vote seen as a test of the nation's support for a pro-European course versus Donald Trump-style nationalism. An exit poll by Ipsos for broadcasters TVN, TVP and Polsat showed Trzaskowski of the ruling centrists Civic Coalition (KO) winning 50.3% of ballots. His rival, a conservative historian and amateur boxer, Karol Nawrocki, backed by nationalists Law and Justice (PiS), was at 49.7%. Official results were due on Monday, although a late poll that mixes some results with exit surveys was expected to be published overnight. The exit poll carries a margin of error of 2 percentage points. Trzaskowski, 53, campaigned on a promise to help the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk complete its democratic reforms, which they both say aim to repair an erosion of checks and balances under the previous nationalist government that lost power in 2023. 'We won,' he told jubilant party members after the exit surveys came out. 'I will bring people together, I will be constructive, I will be a president for all Poles. I will be your president.' Parliament holds most of the power in Poland, but the president can veto legislation, so the vote is being watched closely in neighbouring Ukraine, as well as in Russia, the US and across the European Union. Both candidates agreed on the need to spend heavily on defence, as US President Donald Trump is demanding from Europe, and to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's three-year-old invasion. But while Trzaskowski sees Ukraine's future membership of NATO as essential for Poland's security, Nawrocki said recently that if he were president he would not ratify it because of the danger of the alliance being drawn into war with Russia. Nawrocki, who draws inspiration from Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, said it was too early to call Trzaskowski's victory. 'We will win and we will save Poland,' he said. 'We will not allow for Donald Tusk's power to be all-encompassing and the monopoly of evil power … which takes away our great dreams …to become complete.' CONSERVATIVE VALUES Coming around a year and a half since Tusk, a former president of the European Council, took office, the vote provides the toughest test yet of support for his broad coalition government, with Nawrocki presenting the ballot as a referendum on its actions. The first round of the election on May 18 saw a surge in support for the anti-establishment far-right, suggesting that the KO-PiS duopoly that has dominated Polish politics for a generation may be starting to fracture. Nevertheless, after a tumultuous campaign in which Nawrocki in particular faced a slew of negative media reports about his alleged past conduct, once again candidates representing the two main parties faced off in the second round. PiS has traditionally enjoyed high support in small towns and rural areas, especially in the south and east. These areas are typically more socially conservative than larger cities and poorer, creating a sense of exclusion that PiS has tapped into. KO, meanwhile, campaigns on a pro-European centrist agenda that appeals to more liberal-minded Poles who mainly live in cities or bigger towns. Social issues were also at stake in the election. Trzaskowski has said he wanted to see Poland's near total ban on abortion eased, something that outgoing nationalist President Andrzej Duda strongly opposed.
Mint
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Mint
Big claim: Polish Presidential candidate Trzaskowski says he has emerged victorious
Shrey Banerjee Published 2 Jun 2025, 01:10 AM IST Tight Poland presidential race sees an interesting turn: Trzaskowski leads narrowly After an exit poll showed Polish centrist Presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski leading on Sunday, he made a big claim. Trzaskowski said he had won the second round of the election, amid a tough and ongoing fight between him and nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki.
Chicago Tribune
20 minutes ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
An exit poll in Poland's presidential runoff shows the race is too close to call
WARSAW, Poland — An exit poll in Poland's presidential runoff on Sunday shows the two candidates are very close and that the race is still too close to call. The results could set the course for the nation's political future and its relations with the European Union. An Ipsos exit poll predicts that liberal Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski won 50.3% of the vote and conservative historian Karol Nawrocki won 49.7%. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points and the final vote is likely to change somewhat. The state electoral commission was expected to release the final vote count on Monday, though the result could be known sooner. Poles voted in a decisive presidential runoff pitting Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU figure, against Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party. The outcome will determine whether Poland takes a more nationalist path or pivots more decisively toward liberal democratic norms. With conservative President Andrzej Duda completing his second and final term, the new president will have significant influence over whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government can fulfill its agenda, given the presidential power to veto laws. The runoff follows a tightly contested first round on May 18, in which Trzaskowski won just over 31% and Nawrocki nearly 30%, eliminating 11 other candidates. Katarzyna Malek, a 29-year-old voter in Warsaw, cast her ballot in the first round for a left-wing candidate but went for Trzaskowski on Sunday, viewing him as more competent and more likely to pursue stronger ties with foreign partners and lower social tensions. 'I hope there will be less division, that maybe there will be more dialogue,' she said. The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions and promote constructive ties with European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, skeptical of the EU and aligned with U.S. conservatives, including President Donald Trump. Nawrocki's candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and participation in a violent street battle. He denies the criminal links but acknowledges having taken part in 'noble' fights. The revelations have not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. Some of those voting for Nawrocki in Warsaw dismissed those allegations, saying he shouldn't be punished for his past and that Trzaskowski has also made mistakes as mayor. Władysława Wąsowska, an 82-year-old former history teacher, recalled instilling patriotism in her students during the communist era, when Poland was under Moscow's influence. 'I'm a right-wing conservative. I love God, the church and the homeland,' she said, explaining that Nawrocki for her is the only patriotic choice, and accusing Trzaskowski of serving foreign interests. 'He's controlled by Germany,' she said. 'I want a sovereign, independent, democratic Poland — and a Catholic one.' Amid rising security fears over Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine, both candidates support aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it in the future. Nawrocki's campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including an emphasis on traditional values. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish affairs to larger European powers like France and Germany. Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democratic values under pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe.
Boston Globe
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
An exit poll in Poland's presidential runoff shows the race is too close to call
Poles voted in a decisive presidential runoff pitting Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU figure, against Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party. Advertisement The outcome will determine whether Poland takes a more nationalist path or pivots more decisively toward liberal democratic norms. With conservative President Andrzej Duda completing his second and final term, the new president will have significant influence over whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government can fulfill its agenda, given the presidential power to veto laws. The runoff follows a tightly contested first round on May 18, in which Trzaskowski won just over 31% and Nawrocki nearly 30%, eliminating 11 other candidates. A resident prepared to cast his vote during the presidential election runoff in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday. Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press Katarzyna Malek, a 29-year-old voter in Warsaw, cast her ballot in the first round for a left-wing candidate but went for Trzaskowski on Sunday, viewing him as more competent and more likely to pursue stronger ties with foreign partners and lower social tensions. Advertisement 'I hope there will be less division, that maybe there will be more dialogue,' she said. The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions and promote constructive ties with European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, skeptical of the EU and aligned with U.S. conservatives, including President Donald Trump. Nawrocki's candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and participation in a violent street battle. He denies the criminal links but acknowledges having taken part in 'noble' fights. The revelations have not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. Some of those voting for Nawrocki in Warsaw dismissed those allegations, saying he shouldn't be punished for his past and that Trzaskowski has also made mistakes as mayor. Władysława Wąsowska, an 82-year-old former history teacher, recalled instilling patriotism in her students during the communist era, when Poland was under Moscow's influence. 'I'm a right-wing conservative. I love God, the church and the homeland,' she said, explaining that Nawrocki for her is the only patriotic choice, and accusing Trzaskowski of serving foreign interests. 'He's controlled by Germany,' she said. 'I want a sovereign, independent, democratic Poland — and a Catholic one." Amid rising security fears over Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine, both candidates support aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it in the future. Nawrocki's campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including an emphasis on traditional values. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish affairs to larger European powers like France and Germany. Advertisement Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democratic values under pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe.
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- General
- Reuters
Polish centrist candidate Trzaskowski says he won presidential election
WARSAW, June 1 (Reuters) - Polish centrist presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski said he won the second round of the election on Sunday after an exit poll showed him narowly in the lead ahead of nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki.
