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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Poland's new president: a thorn in the side of the government
There's presidencies, and there's presidencies. Irish parties mulling over their choices to succeed Michael D Higgins will be taking some comfort from the fact that their successful pick will not be assuming a Trump-like, seemingly omnipotent presidency, shaping their agenda, nor indeed, the half-way house that is Poland's top office. Karol Nawrocki, conservative historian, amateur boxer, and supporter of Donald Trump, who was sworn in on Wednesday, is neither a symbolic figurehead nor an agenda setter. However, his powers of veto and policy prerogatives ensure that he will be a major thorn in the side of Poland' s centrist Europhile government. Backed by nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), Nawrocki 's shock, wafer-thin, majority in June's election dealt a particular blow to prime minister Donald Tusk's hopes to undo the PiS's legacy of attacks on judicial independence and to improve the country's relationship with fellow EU member states and Ukraine, whose Nato membership the new president can block. Poland is now bracing for a continuation of the deadlock seen under nationalist outgoing president, Andrzej Duda. At his inauguration on Wednesday Nawrocki warned that he is ready to block appointments of judges he does not see as fit to perform their roles, and will create a council dedicated to repairing Poland's constitutional order. He concluded, shouting the Maga-like 'May God bless Poland, long live Poland.' READ MORE Like Trump, Nawrocki brings a rich vein of controversy to his new post. He is the subjects of ongoing criminal probes, and like Trump, will be protected during his presidential term from prosecution. Controversies he has been involved in range from his admitted part in a brawl between football hooligans in 2009, allegations of involvement with gangsters and claims he cheated an old man out of his apartment. He is a political newcomer little known to the public before PiS threw its weight behind him. A bumpy road ahead is likely.
Zawya
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
President Museveni Calls for Reforms in the United Nations Security Council—Africa to Have Two Permanent Seats and Two Non-Permanent Seats
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to give Africa not less than two Permanent Seats with veto power as well as two Non-Permanent Seats in the United Nations Security Council. The call was made during the 6th Summit of the Committee of Ten African Union Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council (C-10) held virtually on Friday 25th July 2025. The President's statement was delivered by Amb. Adonia Ayebare, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The Summit was convened by H.E Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, who is also the coordinator of the C-10. The Summit was also attended by Heads of State of Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Namibia and Zambia. The Heads of State of Algeria, Congo Republic, and Senegal were ably represented by Ministers. Since 2005, the C-10 has been working to, on behalf of the African Union, champion the Common African Position (CAP) on the reform of the UNSC. The resolutions of the C-10 will form the African position to be discussed at the United Nations General Assembly and other fora. President Museveni called on the United Nations to consider the African proposals for fair representation to rectify the historical injustice against Africa which was perpetrated by the exploitative colonial powers. He noted that at the time the United Nations was founded in 1945, Africa had only four (4) Independent States (Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt and the Union of South Africa) and only these were invited to the San Francisco Conference at which the UN Charter and the Statute of the ICJ were adopted. Currently, Africa has 54 independent States, which forms almost 28% of the UN membership. It is therefore imperative to reform the UNSC to reflect the current realities. The President urged members of the C-10 and the African Union in general to step up building the 'Africa We Want' in accordance with the vision of the African Union, united, cohesive and speaking with one voice in all aspects of the UNSC reforms. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
