Latest news with #populism
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Poland faces government gridlock after far-right candidate wins presidency
Europe's right-wing politicians and their allies in the Trump administration cheered the razor-thin victory of conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki in Poland's presidential election Sunday. For Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and centrist European Union leaders in Brussels, Nawrocki's 50.89-percent-to-49.11-percent win over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski showed just how difficult it can be to reverse course once a country has embraced the grip of authoritarian populists.
Al Jazeera
9 hours ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
‘Obligation': Reactions as Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Nationalist populist Karol Nawrocki will be Poland's next president after a tight election race. His victory marks a significant boost for the populist tide in Europe and around the globe. Electoral Commission results on Monday showed that Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, won 50.89 percent of the vote. His rival, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, received 49.11 percent in Sunday's run-off. The close result is being viewed as an illustration of the deep divide in Polish society between conservative forces, often linked to the powerful Catholic Church, and liberals, largely based in major cities. Although the government holds the majority of power in Poland, Nawrocki is expected to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Andrzej Duda from PiS in using the president's veto power to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk's agenda. Tusk's centrist coalition government has pledged to reform the judicial system, which PiS revamped during eight years in power that came to an end in 2023. PiS's changes caused a bitter fight with the European Union, which said they politicised the judiciary and were undemocratic. The government has also struggled to ease restrictions on abortion and institute LGBTQ rights due to Duda's resistance. Nawrocki has pledged to protect Poland's sovereignty from what he calls excessive interference from Brussels while he also has been critical of Ukraine's hopes of joining the EU and NATO. Although he remains supportive of Kyiv in its war against Russia, Nawrocki has also promised to put the interests of Poles above the large number of Ukrainian refugees that the country has taken in. Therefore, his victory could complicate Warsaw's relations with the EU and impact its support for Ukrainian refugees. United States President Donald Trump gave Nawrocki his blessing before the election, and right-wing forces in Europe, who were disappointed by the defeat of nationalist George Simion in Romania's presidential election last month, have been quick to celebrate. Here is how the world reacted to his victory: Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki on his win but also cautioned him to represent all Poles. 'This win is an obligation, especially in such difficult times. Especially with a close result. Don't forget that,' Trzaskowski said on X. Slawomir Mentzen, leader of the far-right Confederation party, who came third in the May 18 first round of the election, told Nawrocki: 'I am really counting on you not forgetting those millions of voters who did not vote for you in the first round but did yesterday. These people wanted change.' 'The referendum on the dismissal of the Tusk government has been won,' PiS lawmaker Jacek Sasin wrote on X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her congratulations, saying she is 'confident' that 'very good cooperation' with Warsaw would continue. '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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he looks forward to 'fruitful cooperation' with Poland. 'By reinforcing one another on our continent, we give greater strength to Europe in global competition and bring the achievement of real and lasting peace closer,' Zelenskyy said. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Nawrocki and urged Poland to 'cooperate closely based on democracy and rule of law', stating that the two neighbours must cooperate to 'ensure a future of security, freedom and prosperity for Europe'. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he was looking forward to working with Nawrocki on 'making sure that with Poland, NATO becomes even stronger than it is today'. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen welcomed the result of the election, branding it as 'a rebuff to the Brussels oligarchy, which intends to impose a standardisation of legislation on member states, contrary to any democratic will', and the European Commission's 'authoritarian policies and federalist ambitions [that] are brutalising national sovereignty'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who seeks to make himself a figurehead for Europe's nationalist populist forces, congratulated Nawrocki on his 'fantastic victory'. Orban added that he is 'looking forward to working with [Nawrocki] on strengthening Visegrad cooperation', a reference to the four-nation Visegrad Group, in which the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also members. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called Nawrocki's success a 'fresh victory for [European] patriots'. 'Poland WON,' Simion, whose failure to win the Romanian presidency disappointed nationalist and eurosceptic forces, wrote on X.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Poland's election reflects strength of MAGA-style populism across Europe
A conservative nationalist backed by President Donald Trump was elected to Poland's presidency this weekend, capping a string of tightly fought contests that analysts say underscore the growing strength of far-right and populist parties in Europe — fueled in part by the influence of the MAGA movement from across the pond.
Al Jazeera
12 hours ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
'Obligation': Reactions as Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Nationalist populist Karol Nawrocki will be Poland's next president after a tight election race. His victory marks a significant boost for the populist tide in Europe and around the globe. Electoral Commission results on Monday showed that Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, won 50.89 percent of the vote. His rival, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, received 49.11 percent in Sunday's run-off. The close result is being viewed as an illustration of the deep divide in Polish society between conservative forces, often linked to the powerful Catholic Church, and liberals, largely based in major cities. Although the government holds the majority of power in Poland, Nawrocki is expected to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Andrzej Duda from PiS in using the president's veto power to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk's agenda. Tusk's centrist coalition government has pledged to reform the judicial system, which PiS revamped during eight years in power that came to an end in 2023. PiS's changes caused a bitter fight with the European Union, which said they politicised the judiciary and were undemocratic. The government has also struggled to ease restrictions on abortion and institute LGBTQ rights due to Duda's resistance. Nawrocki has pledged to protect Poland's sovereignty from what he calls excessive interference from Brussels while he also has been critical of Ukraine's hopes of joining the EU and NATO. Although he remains supportive of Kyiv in its war against Russia, Nawrocki has also promised to put the interests of Poles above the large number of Ukrainian refugees that the country has taken in. Therefore, his victory could complicate Warsaw's relations with the EU and impact its support for Ukrainian refugees. United States President Donald Trump gave Nawrocki his blessing before the election, and right-wing forces in Europe, who were disappointed by the defeat of nationalist George Simion in Romania's presidential election last month, have been quick to celebrate. Here is how the world reacted to his victory: Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki on his win but also cautioned him to represent all Poles. 'This win is an obligation, especially in such difficult times. Especially with a close result. Don't forget that,' Trzaskowski said on X. Slawomir Mentzen, leader of the far-right Confederation party, who came third in the May 18 first round of the election, told Nawrocki: 'I am really counting on you not forgetting those millions of voters who did not vote for you in the first round but did yesterday. These people wanted change.' 'The referendum on the dismissal of the Tusk government has been won,' PiS lawmaker Jacek Sasin wrote on X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her congratulations, saying she is 'confident' that 'very good cooperation' with Warsaw would continue. '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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he looks forward to 'fruitful cooperation' with Poland. 'By reinforcing one another on our continent, we give greater strength to Europe in global competition and bring the achievement of real and lasting peace closer,' Zelenskyy said. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Nawrocki and urged Poland to 'cooperate closely based on democracy and rule of law', stating that the two neighbours must cooperate to 'ensure a future of security, freedom and prosperity for Europe'. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he was looking forward to working with Nawrocki on 'making sure that with Poland, NATO becomes even stronger than it is today'. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen welcomed the result of the election, branding it as 'a rebuff to the Brussels oligarchy, which intends to impose a standardisation of legislation on member states, contrary to any democratic will', and the European Commission's 'authoritarian policies and federalist ambitions [that] are brutalising national sovereignty'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who seeks to make himself a figurehead for Europe's nationalist populist forces, congratulated Nawrocki on his 'fantastic victory'. Orban added that he is 'looking forward to working with [Nawrocki] on strengthening Visegrad cooperation', a reference to the four-nation Visegrad Group, in which the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also members. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called Nawrocki's success a 'fresh victory for [European] patriots'. 'Poland WON,' Simion, whose failure to win the Romanian presidency disappointed nationalist and eurosceptic forces, wrote on X.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13 hours ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
The Election of a Trump Ally in Poland Could Alter EU and Ukraine Policies
Poland has elected Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian and staunch nationalist, as its next president in a closely watched vote that signals a resurgence of right-wing populism in the heart of Europe. Nawrocki, who is set to take office on Aug. 6, is expected to shape the country's domestic and foreign policy in ways that could strain ties with Brussels while aligning the Central European nation of nearly 38 million people more closely with the administration of President Donald Trump in the United States. Here are some key takeaways: Conservative populism on the rise Nawrocki's victory underscores the enduring appeal of nationalist rhetoric among about half of the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union, and its deep social divisions. The 42-year-old historian, who had no previous political experience, built his campaign on patriotic themes, traditional Catholic values, and a vow to defend Poland's sovereignty against the EU and larger European nations like Germany. His win also reflects the appeal of right-wing nationalism across Europe, where concerns about migration, national sovereignty, and cultural identity have led to surging support for parties on the right — even the far right in recent times. Far-right candidates did very well in Poland's first round of voting two weeks earlier, underlining the appeal of the nationalist and conservative views. Nawrocki picked up many of those votes. As his supporters celebrate his win, those who voted for the defeated liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, worry that it will hasten the erosion of liberal democratic norms. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's troubles Nawrocki's presidency presents a direct challenge to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who returned to power in late 2023 pledging to mend relations with the EU and restore judicial independence which Brussels said was eroded by Law and Justice, the party that backed Nawrocki. But Tusk's coalition, a fragile alliance of centrists, leftists, and agrarian conservatives, has struggled to push through key promises. Nawrocki will have the power to veto legislation, complicating Tusk's agenda and potentially triggering political gridlock. Ties with the Trump administration Nawrocki's election could signal a stronger relationship between Poland and the Trump administration. Poland and the US are close allies, and there are 10,000 US troops stationed in Poland, but Tusk and his partners in the past have been critical of Trump. Nawrocki, however, has a worldview closely aligned with Trump and his Make America Great Again ethos. Trump welcomed Nawrocki to the White House a month ago and his administration made clear in other ways that he was its preferred candidate. A shifting focus on Ukraine While Nawrocki has voiced support for Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, he does not back Ukrainian membership in NATO and has questioned the long-term costs of aid, particularly support for refugees. His rhetoric has at times echoed that of Trump, for instance by accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of what he said was insufficient gratitude for Poland's assistance. With growing public fatigue over helping Ukrainian refugees, Nawrocki's approach could shift Poland's posture from strong ally to conditional partner if the war drags on much longer. Ties with the EU The election result is a setback for the EU, which had welcomed Tusk's return in 2023 as a signal of renewed pro-European engagement. Nawrocki and the Law and Justice party have criticized what nationalists view as EU overreach into Poland's national affairs, especially regarding judicial reforms and migration policy. While the president does not control day-to-day diplomacy, Nawrocki's symbolic and veto powers could frustrate Brussels' efforts to bring Poland back into alignment with bloc standards, particularly on rule-of-law issues. Market jitters Though an EU member, Poland has its own currency, the zloty, which weakened slightly on Monday morning, reflecting investor concerns over potential policy instability and renewed tensions with EU institutions. Billions of euros in EU funding has been linked to judicial reforms which Tusk's government will now be unlikely to enact without presidential cooperation.
