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BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Polish PM Donald Tusk prepares for confidence vote
Poland's prime minister Donald Tusk has called for a vote of confidence in his pro-EU government after his political camp narrowly lost the recent presidential vote should be a formality because Tusk's coalition has a 12-seat majority in the lower house, the Sejm, and only a simple majority in the presence of half the 460 parliamentarians is required to of the vote, Tusk told the house that they could not "close their eyes" to the reality that his government faces "greater challenges" thanks to the election of Karol Nawrocki, who is supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) Poland, the president can veto legislation and Nawrocki, a socially conservative supporter of President Trump who opposes a federal Europe and Ukraine's entry to NATO and the EU, is expected to continue to use his power as the conservative incumbent, Andrzej Duda, has done during the first 18 months of Tusk's term in office. Tusk's coalition lacks a big enough parliamentary majority to overturn a presidential veto. Nothing can be done about that, but a reconfirmation by parliament puts Tusk's government on the front foot again, at least for also announced a cabinet reshuffle would take place in July."I'm asking you for a vote of confidence because I have the conviction, faith and certainty that we have a mandate to govern, to take full responsibility for what is happening in Poland," Tusk said."We are facing two and a half years, in difficult conditions, of full mobilisation and full responsibility," he referred to Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek's recent unsuccessful attempt to win a fourth straight French Open title at Roland Garros, quoting the Frenchman's famous quote, "Victory belongs to the most tenacious". Poland's conservative president-elect to be tough opponent for PM'Vote or face war': Poland PM's stark warning ahead of EU election The opposition in parliament would likely say that Tusk will ultimately be as unsuccessful as Iga Swiatek was at retaining her title. A promise as empty, indeed, as the PiS benches were during Tusk's said his government has been more effective on issues that PiS prides itself on – increased defence spending and tougher on argued Poland had returned to Europe's top table, citing a recently signed bi-lateral treaty with France in which both countries declare to come to their mutual aid in the event of an the end, he received a standing ovation from his own close to the government's small left-wing coalition partner, were largely absent from the was no mention of his campaign promise to give Polish women legal abortion up to the 12th week of promise has got nowhere in the face of opposition from conservatives within the coalition and the knowledge that President Duda would veto government has also made little headway, thanks to Duda's vetoes, on another campaign promise – removing political influence from Polish courts - which caused the European Commission to take legal action against Poland and withhold EU released the funds after Tusk's government promised to undo PiS's judicial reform, causing PiS to accuse the Commission of double said that no-one is as keen as he was to end Poland's legal chaos, but he knows that president-elect Nawrocki will likely continue to use the veto.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Rattled Polish PM Donald Tusk calls confidence vote on his pro-EU government after right-wing candidate inspired by Trump won presidential election
Poland 's rattled Prime Minister has called a confidence vote on his pro-EU government after a right-wing pro-Trump candidate won the presidential election. Donald Tusk announced the ballot on Tuesday when his political ally, the liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, lost the weekend election to conservative Karol Nawrocki. Tusk's government runs most of the day-to-day matters in Poland and exists separately from the presidency. But, the president holds the power to veto laws, and Nawrocki's win will make it extremely difficult for Tusk to press his pro-European agenda. Tusk announced the confidence vote would take place on June 11 at the start of a Cabinet meeting in Warsaw. 'We are starting the session in a new political reality,' Tusk said. 'The political reality is new, because we have a new president. But the constitution, our obligations and the expectations of citizens have not changed. 'In Poland, the government rules, which is a great obligation and honor.' Nawrocki, who was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, won 50.89% of votes in a tight race against Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. The election revealed deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union. Nawrocki, who is set to take office on August 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 Trump administration. Trump welcomed his election, saying on his social media platform Truth Social: 'Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!' Nawrocki replied to Trump on X, saying: 'Thank you, Mr President. Strong alliance with the USA, as well as partnership based on close cooperation are my top priorities.' 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 the presidency is a largely ceremonial role in Poland, Nawrocki 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 favouring 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 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 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. 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 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.
Japan Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Tusk calls confidence vote after nationalist wins Polish presidential election
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called Monday for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continuing support for his pro-EU government, after nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election. European far-right leaders welcomed the election of the 42-year-old Nawrocki, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump who has said he will oppose the government's progressive agenda on abortion and LGBTQ rights. He won Sunday's runoff in the highly polarized EU and NATO member state with 51% of the vote to 49% for Tusk's liberal ally Rafal Trzaskowski. In a televised address, former EU chief Tusk said he wanted the confidence vote "soon" and vowed to stay on, adding that the election "will not change anything." His comments came shortly after opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski of the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party said that Poles had shown him the "red card." Kacynski called for a "technical" government of experts to replace the current one. Nawrocki said on X that he wanted Poland to be "a state that matters in international, European and transatlantic relations. "I will represent you with dignity on the international state, ensuring Poland is treated as an equal," he wrote. Nawrocki could revive tensions with Brussels over rule-of-law issues and complicate ties with Ukraine as he opposes NATO membership for the war-torn country and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. "Nawrocki's presidency will be a rough ride for the Tusk government," said analyst Piotr Buras, adding that the president-elect "wants to overthrow" Tusk. He said the election result could lead to "early parliamentary elections, maybe not this year, but next" year. Reforms planned by Tusk, who came to power in 2023, have been held up by a deadlock with the current president, who endorsed Nawrocki. There have also been divisions in his governing coalition, which analysts said could be exacerbated by the election result. Polish presidents hold a crucial veto power over legislation. 'Share common values' Nationalist leaders rushed to congratulate Nawrocki. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed his fellow nationalist's "fantastic victory," writing on X: "We are looking forward to working with you." French far-right leader Marine Le Pen also welcomed the "good news," while Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered "best wishes" to Nawrocki and said their countries "share common values." Other EU leaders gave a more measured response. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was "confident" that "very good cooperation" would continue with Warsaw. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Nawrocki to work towards "a strong, independent and competitive Europe that respects the rule of law." In his congratulatory statement late Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "The Polish people have spoken and support a stronger military and securing their borders." 'They'll block everything' Many Nawrocki supporters said they hoped the new president would help curb immigration and advocate for more sovereignty for Poland within the European Union. During the campaign, he also tapped into growing resentment against the estimated 1 million Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. Nawrocki used his last campaign hours to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. Trzaskowski voter Zdzislaw Brojek said he expected "chaos" under the new president, who he claimed would do the PiS party's bidding. "They'll block laws, they'll block everything," the 65-year-old gardener said in Warsaw. Tomasz Szypula, 45, a campaigner, said the outcome "pushes back the prospect of any positive change for LGBTQ people for another five years" — the duration of presidential terms in Poland. He called the realization "devastating." Nawrocki opposes same-sex unions and said in April that "the LGBT community cannot count on me to address their issues." He also opposes any easing of Poland's near-total ban on abortion, declaring that he was "in favor of protecting life." Nawrocki's campaign was overshadowed at times by controversies over a murky apartment purchase and his football hooligan past. An amateur boxer, Nawrocki also denied media reports that he had procured sex workers while working as a hotel security guard.
Free Malaysia Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Nationalist Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Karol Nawrocki scored 50.89% of the votes in yesterday's run-off. (AP pic) WARSAW : Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidential election, official results showed today, in a major blow for the country's pro-EU government. The 42-year-old, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, scored 50.89% of votes in yesterday's run-off, the national election commission said. His 53-year-old rival Rafal Trzaskowski, Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and an ally of the country's centrist government, won 49.11% in the highly polarised Nato and EU nation. 'Congratulations to the winner!' outgoing conservative president Andrzej Duda said on X. Duda, who had endorsed Nawrocki, thanked Poles for 'carrying out your civic duty' and for the turnout, which was 71.63%. The results followed a tense evening as both candidates had claimed victory when an exit poll indicated they were neck and neck. 'We will win and we will save Poland,' Nawrocki told a crowd of supporters at his election night rally in Warsaw soon after polling stations closed. 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 as he is critical of Kyiv's EU and Nato accession plans and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. 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.' 'Catholic values' Polish presidents have some influence over foreign and defence policy and wield veto power over legislation, which can only be overturned by a three-fifths majority in parliament, which the government does not have. Reforms planned by prime minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president who came to power in 2023, have been held up by a deadlock with the current president. Many Nawrocki supporters said they want stricter curbs on immigration and advocate conservative social values and more sovereignty for the country within the European Union. 'Catholic values are important to me. I know he shares them,' Warsaw pensioner Lila Chojecka, 60, told AFP as she came to cast her ballot for Nawrocki. Trzaskowski voters tend to back greater integration within the EU and an acceleration of social reforms. Trzaskowski supports introducing civil partnerships for same-sex couples and easing Poland's near-total ban on abortion. Malgorzata Wojciechowska, a tour guide and teacher in her fifties, said Polish women 'unfortunately do not have the same rights as our European friends'. Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, called the election 'a real clash of civilisations'. Campaign controversies Nawrocki's victory is likely to embolden the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023. Some analysts have predicted it could lead to fresh parliamentary elections if political deadlock with the government persists. Nawrocki's campaign was overshadowed at times by controversies over the circumstances in which he bought an apartment from an elderly man and his football hooligan past. A former amateur boxer, Nawrocki also strongly denied media reports in the last days of the campaign that he had procured sex workers while working as a security guard at a hotel. His opposition to Ukraine's Nato membership also brought heavy criticism from Ukrainian officials. Nawrocki used his last campaign hours on Friday to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. 'It was a genocide against the Polish people,' he said. Poland is an EU and Nato member and a fast-growing economy of 38 million people with a leading role in international diplomacy surrounding Ukraine. It is also a key supply route for western arms and aid going into Ukraine.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Nationalist Karol Nawrocki wins Polish presidential election
By Anna Maria Jakubek , AFP Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidential election in a major blow for the country's pro-EU government. Photo: WOJTEK RADWANSKI Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidential election, official results showed on Monday, in a major blow for the country's pro-EU government. The 42-year-old, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, scored 50.89 percent of votes in Sunday's runoff, the national election commission said. His 53-year-old rival Rafal Trzaskowski, Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and an ally of the country's centrist government, won 49.11 percent in the highly polarised NATO and EU nation. "Congratulations to the winner!" outgoing conservative President Andrzej Duda said on X. Duda, who had endorsed Nawrocki, thanked Poles for "carrying out your civic duty" and for the turnout, which was 71.63 percent. The results followed a tense evening as both candidates had claimed victory when an exit poll indicated they were neck and neck. "We will win and we will save Poland," Nawrocki told a crowd of supporters at his election night rally in Warsaw soon after polling stations closed. 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 as he is critical of Kyiv's EU and NATO accession plans and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. 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." Polish presidents have some influence over foreign and defence policy and wield veto power over legislation, which can only be overturned by a three-fifths majority in parliament, which the government does not have. Reforms planned by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president who came to power in 2023, have been held up by a deadlock with the current president. Many Nawrocki supporters said they want stricter curbs on immigration and advocate conservative social values and more sovereignty for the country within the European Union. "Catholic values are important to me. I know he shares them," Warsaw pensioner Lila Chojecka, 60, told AFP as she came to cast her ballot for Nawrocki. Trzaskowski voters tend to back greater integration within the EU and an acceleration of social reforms. Trzaskowski supports introducing civil partnerships for same-sex couples and easing Poland's near-total ban on abortion. Malgorzata Wojciechowska, a tour guide and teacher in her fifties, said Polish women "unfortunately do not have the same rights as our European friends". Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, called the election "a real clash of civilisations". Nawrocki's victory is likely to embolden the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023. Some analysts have predicted it could lead to fresh parliamentary elections if political deadlock with the government persists. Nawrocki's campaign was overshadowed at times by controversies over the circumstances in which he bought an apartment from an elderly man and his football hooligan past. A former amateur boxer, Nawrocki also strongly denied media reports in the last days of the campaign that he had procured sex workers while working as a security guard at a hotel. His opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership also brought heavy criticism from Ukrainian officials. Nawrocki used his last campaign hours on Friday to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. "It was a genocide against the Polish people," he said. Poland is an EU and NATO member and a fast-growing economy of 38 million people with a leading role in international diplomacy surrounding Ukraine. It is also a key supply route for Western arms and aid going into Ukraine. - Agence France-Presse
