Polarised Poland: On politics, the Presidential election results
While Poland's presidency is largely ceremonial, Mr. Nawrocki's victory could significantly impact its politics. First, the President can veto laws passed by Parliament or send them to the constitutional court, now packed with judges appointed by the PiS government. In a post-election rally, Mr. Nawrocki said the Tusk government was trying to achieve a 'monopoly' of power and vowed to prevent it, in a sign of what is to come. As the government does not have the three-fifths majority in Parliament to override presidential vetoes, Mr. Tusk could face further gridlock. Second, Mr. Nawrocki's victory is a morale boost for Poland's Eurosceptic right and may strengthen the alliance between the populist movements across the Atlantic. Despite his campaign rhetoric to oppose Ukraine joining NATO, he is unlikely to change Poland's foreign policy core — be it its political and security alliance with the West or its opposition to Russia. But on social and economic policies, he is likely to follow the PiS's right-wing conservatism. Third, the election result could exacerbate internal tensions within Mr. Tusk's ideologically broad coalition which threaten to reduce Mr. Tusk to being a lame duck Prime Minister. All this points to a turbulent phase for Poland, where a politically polarised and socially divided nation braces for a prolonged tug of war between the pro-European centrists and ascendant populist conservatives.
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