Nationalist populist Karol Nawrocki can be Poland’s subsequent president after a decent election race. His victory marks a major increase for the populist tide in Europe and across the globe.
Electoral Fee outcomes on Monday confirmed that Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Regulation and Justice (PiS) occasion, gained 50.89 % of the vote. His rival, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, obtained 49.11 % in Sunday’s run-off.
The shut result’s being considered as an illustration of the deep divide in Polish society between conservative forces, typically linked to the highly effective Catholic Church, and liberals, largely primarily based in main cities.
Though the federal government holds nearly all of energy in Poland, Nawrocki is predicted to comply with within the footsteps of his predecessor Andrzej Duda from PiS in utilizing the president’s veto energy to dam Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s agenda.
Tusk’s centrist coalition authorities has pledged to reform the judicial system, which PiS revamped throughout eight years in energy that got here to an finish in 2023. PiS’s adjustments precipitated a bitter struggle with the European Union, which mentioned they politicised the judiciary and had been undemocratic.
The federal government has additionally struggled to ease restrictions on abortion and institute LGBTQ rights attributable to Duda’s resistance.
Nawrocki has pledged to guard Poland’s sovereignty from what he calls extreme interference from Brussels whereas he additionally has been essential of Ukraine’s hopes of becoming a member of the EU and NATO.
Though he stays supportive of Kyiv in its warfare towards Russia, Nawrocki has additionally promised to place the pursuits of Poles above the massive variety of Ukrainian refugees that the nation has taken in.
Due to this fact, his victory might complicate Warsaw’s relations with the EU and influence its assist for Ukrainian refugees.
United States President Donald Trump gave Nawrocki his blessing earlier than the election, and right-wing forces in Europe, who had been dissatisfied by the defeat of nationalist George Simion in Romania’s presidential election final month, have been fast to have a good time.
Right here is how the world reacted to his victory:
Poland
Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki on his win but additionally cautioned him to signify all Poles. “This win is an obligation, particularly in such troublesome occasions. Particularly with an in depth consequence. Don’t neglect that,” Trzaskowski mentioned on X.
Slawomir Mentzen, chief of the far-right Confederation occasion, who got here third within the Could 18 first spherical of the election, informed Nawrocki: “I’m actually relying on you not forgetting these hundreds of thousands of voters who didn’t vote for you within the first spherical however did yesterday. These individuals needed change.”
“The referendum on the dismissal of the Tusk authorities has been gained,” PiS lawmaker Jacek Sasin wrote on X.
European Union
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen despatched her congratulations, saying she is “assured” that “excellent cooperation” with Warsaw would proceed.
“We’re all stronger collectively in our group of peace, democracy, and values. So allow us to work to make sure the safety and prosperity of our frequent residence,” she mentioned on X.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he seems to be ahead to “fruitful cooperation” with Poland.
“By reinforcing each other on our continent, we give higher power to Europe in world competitors and produce the achievement of actual and lasting peace nearer,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Germany
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Nawrocki and urged Poland to “cooperate intently primarily based on democracy and rule of legislation”, stating that the 2 neighbours should cooperate to “guarantee a way forward for safety, freedom and prosperity for Europe”.
NATO
Secretary-Basic Mark Rutte mentioned he was wanting ahead to working with Nawrocki on “ensuring that with Poland, NATO turns into even stronger than it’s right now”.
France
Far-right chief Marine Le Pen welcomed the results of the election, branding it as “a rebuff to the Brussels oligarchy, which intends to impose a standardisation of laws on member states, opposite to any democratic will”, and the European Fee’s “authoritarian insurance policies and federalist ambitions [that] are brutalising nationwide sovereignty”.
Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who seeks to make himself a figurehead for Europe’s nationalist populist forces, congratulated Nawrocki on his “unbelievable victory”. Orban added that he’s “wanting ahead to working with [Nawrocki] on strengthening Visegrad cooperation”, a reference to the four-nation Visegrad Group, through which the Czech Republic and Slovakia are additionally members.
International Minister Peter Szijjarto referred to as Nawrocki’s success a “recent victory for [European] patriots”.
Romania
“Poland WON,” Simion, whose failure to win the Romanian presidency dissatisfied nationalist and eurosceptic forces, wrote on X.
