Latest news with #eurosceptic
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump-inspired Karol Nawrocki wins Poland election
Poland has elected conservative eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki (pictured) as its new president after a staggering turnaround to clinch 50.89 per cent of the vote. Nawrocki, 42, narrowly overcame Warsaw's centrist liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, who scored 49.11 per cent of the vote in Sunday's runoff. Supported by the Law and Justice party (PiS), Nawrocki is expected to follow his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, in blocking the reform agenda of the government. While president is a largely ceremonial role in Poland, he will now have the power to veto prime minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU programme and liberalising policies. Tusk came to power in 2023, promising to restore the rule of law, reform the courts and state media, and to liberalise abortion - purging institutions of cronies installed by the PiS government during its eight years in power. His coalition government does not have a large enough majority in parliament to overturn pushback from the president, who will look to stall Tusk's reversals. Nawrocki, a political newcomer taking inspiration from Donald Trump, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine. His election comes at a sensitive time, with Poland one of the leading countries in the EU and one of few positioned to face down a belligerent Russia. Turnout in the second round of the election reached 72.8 per cent, according to Ipsos - a record for the second round of a presidential election. Unlike other eurosceptics in central Europe, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary's Viktor Orban, Nawrocki supports giving military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia's three-year-old invasion. But he has said that, if elected, he will oppose membership in Western alliances for Ukraine, a position that seeks to chime with falling support for Ukrainians among Poles, who have hosted more than a million refugees from across the border. In an interview on May 22, Nawrocki - who enjoys backing from Donald Trump - said he opposed Ukraine joining NATO, breaking from the position of previous PiS candidates. His backers at home had supported fast-tracking membership in the EU and NATO for Kyiv while in power until late 2023. Nawrocki's critics said he was fuelling unease over Ukrainian refugees at a time when the far-right is highlighting migration, the cost of living and security. He cited his campaign slogan, Poland First. 'Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first,' he said on social media in April. He is likely to follow a similar path to outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally who has used his veto power to block the pro-EU government's efforts to undo the previous PiS administration's judicial reforms. The EU says the PiS reforms undermined the independence of the courts. Borys Budka, a KO Member of the European Parliament, said he believed PiS now sought to 'overthrow the legal government'. 'This may be a big challenge for the government, which will be blocked when it comes to good initiatives,' he told state news channel TVP Info. Krzysztof Izdebski, policy director at the Batory Foundation, said the result meant 'Trump will have more to say in Polish politics', after the U.S. leader endorsed Nawrocki on the campaign trail. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also endorsed him at a conservative conference in Poland last week, saying: 'He needs to be the next president.' The election could have gone either way, with opponent Trzaskowski narrowly more popular during the first round of voting in May, winning just over 31% of the vote against Nawrocki's nearly 30%. Without Trzaskowski in the presidential role, Tusk will face an uphill battle to pass legislation looking to undo the work of the former PiS government. Outgoing president Duda has already blocked some reforms and appointments by Tusk, limiting progress. Nawrocki's win will block the government's progressive agenda for abortion and LGBTQ rights and could revive tensions with Brussels over rule of law issues. It could also undermine strong ties with neighbouring Ukraine, with Nawrocki looking to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Nawrocki, a historian and amateur boxer, won in spite of questions around his past dominating the presidential campaign. It has been reported that in the early 2000s he arranged [adult] workers for guests staying a hotel where he worked, allegations he denies. Questions also remain over his acquisition of a flat from a pensioner to an admission that he took part in orchestrated mass brawls of football hooligans in his 20s. The result could lend momentum to the Czech Republic's eurosceptic opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis who leads opinion polls ahead of an October election. Babis offered 'warm congratulations' on X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) on Monday congratulated Nawrocki on winning, adding she was 'confident' that 'very good cooperation' would continue with Warsaw. 'We are all stronger together in our community of peace, democracy, and values. So let us work to ensure the security and prosperity of our common home,' she said on X. Hungary's prime minister hailed the 'fantastic victory'. 'What a nail-biter!,' Viktor Orban wrote on X. 'We are looking forward to working with you.' Not all were convinced by Nawrocki's election. Poland's blue-chip index WIG20 was down around 3.39% at 7:01 GMT.
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Nationalist Karol Nawrocki is narrow winner in Polish presidential election
Conservative Karol Nawrocki won Poland 's weekend presidential run-off election, according to the final vote count on Monday, in a blow for the country's pro-EU government. Mr Nawrocki, who is 42 and an admirer of US President Donald Trump, won 50.89 per cent of votes in a race against Rafał Trzaskowski, Warsaw's pro-Brussels mayor and ally of the country's centrist government who received 49.11 per cent. "Congratulations to the winner!' outgoing conservative President Andrzej Duda said on X. 'Stay strong Poland!' Mr Nawrocki, a eurosceptic historian who ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities. The amateur boxer won despite his past dominating debate in the last days of the campaign – from questions about his acquisition of a flat from a pensioner to an admission that he took part in orchestrated gang fights. While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine as well as Russia, the US and across the European Union. The victory brings a "fresh victory for (European) patriots', Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on his Facebook page on Monday. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday congratulated Mr Nawrocki with his win and said she was convinced the EU could continue its "very good co-operation' with Poland. "We are all stronger together in our community of peace, democracy, and values. So let us work to ensure the security and prosperity of our common home,' Ms von der Leyen said in a post on X. Tight race The race had Poland on edge since a first round of voting two weeks earlier, revealing deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of Nato and the European Union. About Karol Nawrocki Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances. A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April. Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings. Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing. An early exit poll released on Sunday evening suggested that Mr Trzaskowski was heading to victory before polling began to suggest otherwise a couple of hours later. The outcome suggests that Poland can be expected to take a more populist and nationalist path under its new leader. President's role Most day-to-day power in the Polish political system rests with a prime minister chosen by the parliament. However, the president's role is not merely ceremonial – the office holds the power to influence foreign policy and veto legislation. Mr Nawrocki will succeed Mr Duda, a conservative whose second and final term ends on August 6. Under the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once. Tusk headache Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power in 2023 with a coalition government that spans a broad ideological divide – so broad that it has not been able to fulfil certain of his electoral promises, such as loosening the restrictive abortion law or passing a civil partnership law for same-sex couples. But Mr Duda's veto power has been another obstacle. It has prevented Mr Tusk from fulfilling promises to reverse laws that politicised the court system in a way that the European Union declared to be undemocratic. Now, it appears Mr Tusk will have no way to fulfil those promises, made to voters and the EU. Some observers in Poland have said the unfulfilled promises could make it more difficult for Mr Tusk to continue his term until the next parliamentary election scheduled for late 2027, particularly if the Law and Justice party dangles the prospect of co-operation with conservatives in his coalition. In the past two weeks, the candidates mostly fought for the support of people who voted for other candidates in the first round, in particular far-right's Slawomir Mentzen, who came third with 15 per cent support. Mr Trzaskowski tried to attract them with promises of deregulation. Mr Nawrocki used his credentials as head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), support for gun ownership, traditional families and Christian values, but also a critical tone on Ukraine, in common with Mr Mentzen. Mr Nawrocki's wife Marta, a civil servant, and three children featured strongly in his campaign. Boxer, historian, politician Mr Nawrocki, a 42-year-old amateur boxer and historian, was chosen by the Law and Justice party as part of its push for a new start. The party governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, when it lost power to a centrist coalition led by Mr Tusk. Mr Nawrocki was chosen as a new face who would not be tainted by the scandals of the party's eight years of rule. However, his candidacy was clouded by allegations of connections to criminal figures and his participation in a violent street brawl. He denies the criminal links but was unapologetic about the street fight, saying he had taken part in 'noble' fights in his life. The revelations did not seem to hurt his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. "All my sports activities were based on the strength of my heart, the strength of my muscles, my fists,' Mr Nawrocki told a debate when confronted over reports he had been involved in mass organised fights between football hooligans. "It was a fair competition, regardless of the form.' Mr Nawrocki portrayed the election as a referendum on the government, which he described as a metropolitan elite out of touch with their concerns. "I am simply one of you,' he told voters in the eastern town of Biala Podlaska while on the campaign trail. The Trump factor Mr Trump made it clear he favoured Mr Nawrocki as Poland's president. He welcomed Mr Nawrocki to the White House a month ago. Last week, the conservative group CPAC held its first meeting in Poland to give Mr Nawrocki a boost. Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security Secretary and a prominent Trump ally, praised Mr Nawrocki and urged Poles to vote for him.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Right-wing candidate wins Poland's presidential election in huge blow to pro-EU PM Donald Tusk
Poland has elected conservative eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki as its new president after a staggering turnaround to clinch 50.89 per cent of the vote. Nawrocki, 42, narrowly overcame Warsaw's centrist liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, who scored 49.11 per cent of the vote in Sunday's runoff. Supported by the Law and Justice party (PiS), Nawrocki is expected to follow his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, in blocking the reform agenda of the government. While president is a largely ceremonial role in Poland, he will now have the power to veto prime minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU programme and liberalising policies. Tusk came to power in 2023, promising to restore the rule of law, reform the courts and state media, and to liberalise abortion - purging institutions of cronies installed by the PiS government over its eight years in power. His coalition government does not have a large enough majority in parliament to overturn pushback from the president, who will look to stall Tusk's reversals. Nawrocki campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine. His election comes at a sensitive time, with Poland one of the leading countries in the EU and one of few positioned to face down a belligerent Russia. Turnout in the second round of the election reached 72.8 per cent, according to Ipsos - the highest of any presidential election in Poland's history. Unlike other eurosceptics in central Europe, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary's Viktor Orban, Nawrocki supports giving military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia's three-year-old invasion. But he has said that, if elected, he will oppose membership in Western alliances for Ukraine, a position that seeks to chime with falling support for Ukrainians among Poles, who have hosted more than a million refugees from across the border. In an interview on May 22, Nawrocki - who enjoys backing from Donald Trump - said he opposed Ukraine joining NATO, breaking from the position of previous PiS candidates. His backers at home had supported fast-tracking membership in the EU and NATO for Kyiv while in power until late 2023. Nawrocki's critics said he was fuelling unease over Ukrainian refugees at a time when the far-right is highlighting migration, the cost of living and security. He cited his campaign slogan, Poland First. 'Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first,' he said on social media in April. He is likely to follow a similar path to outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally who has used his veto power to block the pro-EU government's efforts to undo the previous PiS administration's judicial reforms. The EU says the PiS reforms undermined the independence of the courts. Without Trzaskowski in the presidential role, Tusk will face an uphill battle to pass legislation looking to undo the work of the former PiS government. Outgoing president Duda has already blocked some reforms and appointments by Tusk, limiting progress. Nawrocki's win will block the government's progressive agenda for abortion and LGBTQ rights and could revive tensions with Brussels over rule of law issues. It could also undermine strong ties with neighbouring Ukraine, with Nawrocki looking to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Nawrocki, a historian and amateur boxer, won in spite of questions around his past dominating the presidential campaign. It has been reported that in the early 2000s he arranged sex workers for guests staying a hotel where he worked, allegations he denies. Questions also remain over his acquisition of a flat from a pensioner to an admission that he took part in orchestrated mass brawls of football hooligans in his 20s. Nawrocki visited the White House during his campaign and said he had been told by Trump: 'You will win.' US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also endorsed Nawrocki when she attended a conservative conference in Poland last week, saying: 'He needs to be the next president.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday congratulated Nawrocki on winning, adding she was 'confident' that 'very good cooperation' would continue with Warsaw. 'We are all stronger together in our community of peace, democracy, and values. So let us work to ensure the security and prosperity of our common home,' she said on X. Hungary's prime minister hailed the 'fantastic victory'. 'What a nail-biter!,' Viktor Orban wrote on X. 'We are looking forward to working with you.' Not all were convinced by Nawrocki's election. Poland's blue-chip index WIG20 was down around 3.39% at 7:01 GMT.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential run-off
Conservative eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki has won Poland's presidential run-off election with all votes now counted, according to the country's election commission. Nawrocki won 50.89 percent of votes in the tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent, the commission announced said on Monday. Nawrocki, 42, a historian and amateur boxer who ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine. While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine as well as Russia, the United States and across the European Union.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Conservative Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential run-off, media reports say
Conservative eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki is expected to win Poland's presidential runoff election with all votes now counted, according to media reports. The Associated Press news agency, citing the final vote count, reported on Monday that Nawrocki won 50.89 percent of votes in the tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent. The Polish news website, Onet, reported the same results on its website. The Polish Electoral Commission said on its website that it had counted all of the votes. The commission had said earlier that official results would be out on Monday morning. Nawrocki, 42, an historian and amateur boxer who ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine. While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine as well as Russia, the United States and across the European Union.
