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Time Magazine
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
How Poland's Next President Will Boost the Far Right
The presidential election in Poland delivered the latest anti-incumbent surprise in what has been a tough period for establishment candidates the world over. The right-wing populist Karol Nawrocki, a historian with no political experience, won a narrow victory in a June 1 run-off vote over a candidate aligned with the centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his plans for closer European integration. Nawrocki will take office on Aug. 6. Tusk must now buckle up for a bumpy ride. With a presidential veto, Nawrocki will halt Tusk's bid to liberalize abortion law and to overhaul a courts system packed with judges politically aligned with the previous far-right government led by the Law and Justice Party (PiS), a change demanded by the European Union. But Nawrocki won't just block Tusk's reform plans. He'll also work to exploit potential divisions within Tusk's four-party governing coalition, particularly among lawmakers in the conservative Polish People's Party, still the weakest link in Tusk's alliance. Read More: Polish Women Fight Back Against Restrictive Abortion Laws In fact, the one-point presidential election loss for his ally Rafal Trzaskowski leaves Prime Minister Tusk as a lame duck, and it underlines the growing frustration of many Poles with a rising cost of living and the now long-term presence of up to 2.5 million Ukrainian refugees across the country. While support for Ukraine's defense and fear and loathing of Russia span most of Poland's political spectrum, a sluggish economy leaves many feeling Ukrainians should return home. A recent survery by Poland's Centre for Public Opinion Research found that support for accepting Ukrainian refugees dropped from 81% in early 2023 to just 50% in March. Nawrocki's ability to block Tusk's agenda will leave more voters fed up with Tusk's government, boosting right and far-right parties ahead of parliamentary elections in 2027. It hasn't been all bad news for Tusk. He comfortably survived a no-confidence vote on June 11. He'll now make changes to the government itself, and focus only on the more broadly popular policies. Tusk will likely downsize the number of ministries, particularly for economic management, and placate key coalition partners with important new jobs. His government will prioritize social policies and new subsidies to take some of the edge off voters anxieties over Poland's economy, push plans to make housing more affordable, and avoid policies they know the new President will veto. Tusk's party will also try to undercut the right's hold on anti-immigration sentiment by focusing on border protection tougher laws. Even before the election, Tusk pushed through a temporary suspension of the right to asylum, bringing his government closer to the anti-immigrant positions of the far-right. But these are coping tactics, not a roadmap to winning the next elections. Its political base expects Tusk's Civic Platform party to loosen abortion restrictions. (Since 2021, Polish law permit abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or the serious threat to a woman's life or health.) His supporters also want him to restore rule of law in the country after the previous PiS government undermined the independence of some of Poland's political institutions. But 'elections have consequences,' as Dick Cheney, the U.S. Vice President now in the political wilderness, once said. Nawrocki will use the powers of the presidency to undermine Tusk on the European stage. He can't make foreign or security policy, but he can use his political alignment with Donald Trump and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as well as criticism of E.U. conformity, to remind leaders across Europe that Poland remains a polarized place and a shaky long-term bet for closer alignment with the bloc's policies and political values. In particular, support for neighboring Ukraine and its European aspirations will face new hurdles. Though Nawrocki supports Ukraine's war effort, he opposes E.U. and NATO membership for Ukraine and will push for cuts to benefits to Ukrainian refugees still in Poland. The new President won't have the power to create policy himself, but his willingness to criticize increasingly unpopular pro-Ukraine measures will make life much more difficult—for Ukrainians and for Tusk.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Polarised Poland: On politics, the Presidential election results
When Donald Tusk's diverse coalition came to power in Poland in 2023, ending the eight-year rule of the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), the veteran centrist promised 'to chase away the darkness'. Two years on, with the Tusk government still struggling to deliver on key reforms, Polish voters have elected a conservative backed by PiS as the country's next President. Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and former boxer with little political experience, won the June 1 presidential run-off with 50.89% votes, narrowly defeating the liberal Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, who secured 49.11%. Mr. Nawrocki, endorsed by Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, presented himself as an outsider populist, and promised a 'Poland first' approach that echoed Trumpian rhetoric. During its rule (2015–23), the PiS had implemented sweeping reforms that were aimed at tightening its control over state institutions and media, and recasting the Polish society along its ideological lines. It curbed abortion rights, overhauled education and filled the judiciary with party loyalists, often clashing with the European Union. Mr. Tusk attempted to roll back some of these measures, but met with strong opposition from the outgoing President, Andrzej Duda, also a PiS ally. As legislative logjam derailed Mr. Tusk's reform agenda, Mr. Nawrocki capitalised on public resentment, attacking the Polish establishment and Brussels. 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.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
How Poland's new conservative President, a Trump ally, may upend its EU relations
Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and political newcomer, narrowly won Poland's presidency on Monday (June 2). Backed by the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), he defeated centrist rival Rafał Trzaskowski, with 50.89 per cent of the vote in Sunday's runoff election. An amateur boxer and former football hooligan, Nawrocki ran his campaign on a 'Poland First, Poles First' platform. He was endorsed by US President Donald Trump, with whom he shares many views. Nawrocki's victory signals a PiS resurgence and will put the Eurosceptic president at odds with the pro-Europe government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk of the centrist Civic Platform. For the past 18 months, Tusk's government has sought to reverse judicial reforms instituted by the previous PiS government but has faced resistance from outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally. In anticipation of the trend, Tusk announced on Monday that a confidence vote in his government will be held on June 11 to boost support for his coalition government. A populist at heart, Nawrocki, a relatively unknown face before the elections, was positioned as a 'people's candidate' by the PiS. The party announced him as an 'independent candidate' to distance him from the allegations of corruption and breach of law that led to the end of PiS's eight-year rule in 2023. He maintains a tough-guy image, admitting to taking part in a pre-arranged brawl between football teams. He has posted pictures of himself in the gym, firing a gun and riding a tractor. He also emphasises his family and Christian values. His wife, Marta Nawrocka, and their children, Daniel, Antoni and Katarzyna, featured heavily in his campaign. Born in the port city of Gdansk, Nawrocki comes from humble beginnings. He holds a PhD in humanities and currently heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a government agency that researches modern Polish history and investigates crimes under the Nazi occupation and the Communist period. Ties to Trump and 'Poland First' agenda Nawrocki's campaign gained a major boost from his close association with Donald Trump. Notably, Poland and the US are close allies, with 10,000 US troops stationed in Poland. However, Prime Minister Tusk has long maintained an animosity towards Trump. Both Nawrocki and Trump have publicly praised each other, and in May, Nawrocki visited the Oval Office for a photo-op with Trump during his campaign. When Nawrocki won the elections, Trump posted on his social media platform: 'TRUMP ALLY WINS IN POLAND, SHOCKING ALL IN EUROPE. NewsMax. Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!' Thanking the President, Nawrocki said, 'Strong alliance with the USA, as well as partnership based on close cooperation are my top priorities.' Nawrocki has invoked the slogan 'Poland First' along the campaign trail to express his concerns on the cost of living, migration, and security. 'Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first,' he posted on his social media in April. Much like Trump, Nawrocki holds anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigration views. He has said that he would oppose the imposition of the EU's climate (aimed at decarbonisation) and migration policies. Euroscepticism and perceived EU overreach Responding to a congratulatory message from European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, Nawrocki called for 'respect for national sovereignty'. Nawrocki's victory has added to the list of Eurosceptic leaders, including Hungary's Viktor Orban, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Slovakia's Robert Fico. They view the EU's policies as undermining their own government decisions. Nawrocki's rise to power comes after the recent election of a liberal mayor as Romania's president, a result pro-European leaders had hoped signalled the ebbing of the far-right tide in central Europe. Nawrocki and the PiS diverge with the EU on key issues surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Given Poland's own troubled history with Russia, Nawrocki has maintained his support for Ukraine but has opposed Kyiv's entry into alliances such as the European Union (EU) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). He has also spoken of the public's growing weariness with Ukrainian refugees who have added to Warsaw's costs. Nawrocki has also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for treating Poland 'badly', echoing Trump's remarks. Challenges for the Tusk government Nawrocki's Euroscepticism threatens to hinder Poland's access to crucial EU funds. The Tusk government had pledged to reverse the controversial judicial regime from the PiS era, prompting the EU to unlock €137 billion in funding. A significant chunk of this has already been disbursed, but future cooperation may falter if Nawrocki blocks Tusk's overhauling of judicial reforms. While Nawrocki has limited executive powers, he holds a crucial right to veto legislation, spelling trouble for the Tusk government. The Tusk coalition itself has struggled to push through key electoral promises, including fewer restrictions on abortion and a civil union law for same-sex couples. Despite having a parliamentary majority, the coalition government does not have enough numbers to override the President's veto, triggering fears of a political gridlock. Aligning with Polish farmers, Nawrocki may block the Tusk government's trade deal with South American nations over concerns about cheap agricultural imports. He has also pledged to hold a referendum on the European Green Deal, which faces strong opposition from farmers, coal workers, and the automotive industry. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Euronews
02-06-2025
- Euronews
New searches in the Algarve in connection with the Maddie McCann case
German police are to carry out new searches in Lagos, in the Algarve, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, according to information provided this Monday by the British authorities. According to CNN Portugal, the operation, which will also include the intervention of the Judiciary Police, could begin as early as Tuesday and should be centred on an area between Praia da Luz and one of the houses where Christian Brueckner - the main and so far only suspect - lived at the time of the disappearance. The same television station also points out that, with these endeavours, the authorities intend to try to find any traces of Maddie's body or any other evidence that could help support a case against Brueckner. The three-year-old British child was reported missing in May 2007 while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Lagos. On the night of her disappearance, while her parents were having dinner with friends in a nearby restaurant, the little girl was in the tourist accommodation where she was holidaying with her family, in the same room as her brother and sister, who were only two years old. To date, the Portuguese, German and British authorities are still trying to figure out what happened on the night of 3 May 2007. In 2020, the German authorities revealed that they were investigating Christian Brueckner, a 48-year-old German citizen, on suspicion of murder. He lived a kilometre from Praia da Luz at the time of the incident and already had a history of suspected child sexual abuse and rape. However, he has not been charged with any offence in the case now under investigation and denies any involvement in Madeleine McCann's disappearance. In addition, Christian Brueckner is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in 2005 on Portuguese territory. In mid-May 2023, 16 years after Maddie's disappearance, the Portuguese police resumed their search in the case, specifically at the Arade Dam in Silves. This time, too, the work was carried out at the request of the German authorities, and British officials were also present. This was after a tip-off in 2008 that the body of the British child had been left in those same waters. Since the night of her disappearance, Madeleine McCann has never been seen in public. At a press conference in Vilnius on Monday, President Andrzej Duda commented for the first time on the results of the second round of the presidential election. "I hope that for Prime Minister Tusk and the government, this is an unambiguous signal from the Poles that they expect the kind of policy in their majority that the President-elect proposes and that Karol Nawrocki preached during his campaign," said the President. Both candidates, in their post-election speeches, declared their intention to build bridges in a divided society. Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the Law and Justice Party, remained hopeful after the exit poll results—and his optimism proved justified, as later polls and the official results from the State Electoral Commission confirmed his victory. "I believe that tomorrow we will wake up with our President Karol Nawrocki, who will put together a half-crawled Poland," praised the PiS-backed candidate. Rafał Trzaskowski, after exit polls suggested he was winning, said he would be the president of all Poles. "I believe that the first, most important task of the president of Poland will be to reach out to all those who did not vote for me," he said. At Monday's conference, PKW chairman Sylwester Marciniak officially announced that Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki received 10,606,877 valid votes, while Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski got 10,237,286. The difference between them was fewer than 370,000 votes, or 1.78 percentage points – the smallest gap in a presidential run-off since 1989. This shows how deeply divided society is and suggests possible political instability. Will relations between Donald Tusk's government and the new president-elect improve? We asked the people of Warsaw. "They are on opposite sides and don't agree. But Nawrocki is a big unknown. Also, nobody knows anything," said one passer-by. Another Warsaw resident toned down the mood: "We need to cool down first. Is it even possible to arrange something? I hope, however, that wisdom will win out and somehow these relations will settle down. And this nation will not be as divided as it is at the moment." "There is no agreement between the government and the president. There are two different worlds: the Polish world and the German world," another man commented. And his companion referred to Karol Nawrocki's passion for sport: "He has religious values and is a boxer. And a boxer will box." "It looks as if the new president Nawrocki was elected almost on demand, so that the coalition can complain for the next five years about how they can't get anything done because the president closes the door in front of their noses," commented, in turn, a Pole who has lived in the UK for twenty years. "I'm not Polish, but I think the situation is very bad and it's going to be super hard," a young Belarusian citizen who lives permanently in Poland told Euronews. Two days after the first round of the presidential election, Donald Tusk announced the renegotiation of the coalition agreement and the reconstruction of the government, which was to take place after the election of the president. "The atmosphere has to cool down after the elections. I am not saying it will be next year, but in June I will already be back calmly from talks with my coalition partners. Not to take anything away from them, but to make this government smaller – although in good proportions for everyone – and much more efficient," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during an interview with TVP. In a televised speech later on Monday, he announced his intention to hold a confidence vote in parliament without giving any more details.
Euronews
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Poles on Nawrocki and Tusk's cooperation: 'two different worlds'
At a press conference in Vilnius on Monday, President Andrzej Duda commented for the first time on the results of the second round of the presidential election. "I hope that for Prime Minister Tusk and the government, this is an unambiguous signal from the Poles that they expect the kind of policy in their majority that the President-elect proposes and that Karol Nawrocki preached during his campaign," said the President. Both candidates, in their post-election speeches, declared their intention to build bridges in a divided society. Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the Law and Justice Party, remained hopeful after the exit poll results—and his optimism proved justified, as later polls and the official results from the State Electoral Commission confirmed his victory. "I believe that tomorrow we will wake up with our President Karol Nawrocki, who will put together a half-crawled Poland," praised the PiS-backed candidate. Rafał Trzaskowski, after exit polls suggested he was winning, said he would be the president of all Poles. "I believe that the first, most important task of the president of Poland will be to reach out to all those who did not vote for me," he said. At Monday's conference, PKW chairman Sylwester Marciniak officially announced that Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki received 10,606,877 valid votes, while Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski got 10,237,286. The difference between them was fewer than 370,000 votes, or 1.78 percentage points – the smallest gap in a presidential run-off since 1989. This shows how deeply divided society is and suggests possible political instability. Will relations between Donald Tusk's government and the new president-elect improve? We asked the people of Warsaw. "They are on opposite sides and don't agree. But Nawrocki is a big unknown. Also, nobody knows anything," said one passer-by. Another Warsaw resident toned down the mood: "We need to cool down first. Is it even possible to arrange something? I hope, however, that wisdom will win out and somehow these relations will settle down. And this nation will not be as divided as it is at the moment." "There is no agreement between the government and the president. There are two different worlds: the Polish world and the German world," another man commented. And his companion referred to Karol Nawrocki's passion for sport: "He has religious values and is a boxer. And a boxer will box." "It looks as if the new president Nawrocki was elected almost on demand, so that the coalition can complain for the next five years about how they can't get anything done because the president closes the door in front of their noses," commented, in turn, a Pole who has lived in the UK for twenty years. "I'm not Polish, but I think the situation is very bad and it's going to be super hard," a young Belarusian citizen who lives permanently in Poland told Euronews. Two days after the first round of the presidential election, Donald Tusk announced the renegotiation of the coalition agreement and the reconstruction of the government, which was to take place after the election of the president. "The atmosphere has to cool down after the elections. I am not saying it will be next year, but in June I will already be back calmly from talks with my coalition partners. Not to take anything away from them, but to make this government smaller – although in good proportions for everyone – and much more efficient," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during an interview with TVP. In a televised speech later on Monday, he announced his intention to hold a confidence vote in parliament without giving any more details. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said he would ask parliament to hold a vote of confidence in his coalition government after his ally, the liberal Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, lost Sunday's presidential runoff. Conservative Karol Nawrocki won the election, finishing with 50.89% of the vote. "Regardless of how we evaluate the winning candidate, we should acknowledge his victory and congratulate his voters," Tusk said in a televised speech on Monday. "I want to declare to you that I will not stop for a moment as prime minister of our government. The presidential elections have not changed anything here and will not change anything. We will cooperate with the new president where necessary and possible." The result leaves Tusk politically weakened and there are questions about whether his multi-party coalition can survive to the end of its term in late 2027. If he survives the confidence vote, it would show he still has a mandate to govern. It is not clear when the confidence vote might take place. Nawrocki will succeed conservative Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term ends on 6 August. The close ballot had the country on edge since a first round two weeks earlier revealed deep divisions along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union. Although most day-to-day power lies in Poland lies with the prime minister, the president is able to influence foreign policy and, crucially, veto legislation. Tusk, who came to power in late 2023 with a coalition government with a broad ideological divide, has been unable to muster enough support to fulfil certain electoral promises such as easing abortion law. He is expected to face further obstacles with Nawrocki as president. The 42-year-old amateur boxer and political novice is supported by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński appealed on Monday to all political forces to support the formation of a technocratic government. "Today we need a solution in the form of a technical government, which, like the president, will be non-partisan. The head of this government must be selected in talks with those who would be ready to support such a project. It would not have to be someone who has ties to us," he said. "Individual ministries would be managed by specialists in specific areas of social life."
