Controversial Polish Presidential Election: Which Two Candidates Grab the Country by the Cujavian Hills?
Deciding between Pro-European and Nationalist Candidates: Poland Holds Presidential Vote - European lawmakers approve changes to the prescribed regulation.
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This hotly contested election could shake up Poland, a crucial member of the EU and NATO. If Trzaskowski, a liberal EU politician, wins, he'll likely steamroll pro-reforms blocked by the incumbent, right-nationalist President Duda. Alternatively, Nawrocki, the political newcomer backed by the nationalist ruling party PiS like Duda, may challenge Poland's strong support for Ukraine. A potential win for him could even lead to fresh parliamentary elections.
In the initial round, the liberal mayor Trzaskowski and the independent historian Nawrocki were practically tied, with around 31 and 30 percent of votes respectively. Recent polls indicate that Trzaskowski, at 50.1 percent, has a slight edge over Nawrocki with 49.9 percent—a difference irrelevant within the error margin.
The fate of the runoff hinges on each candidate's capacity to rally their supporters and win over voters from eliminated opponents. Some noteworthy leftovers from the first round include the right-wing extremist Mentzen, who earned 14.8 percent despite opposing abortion rights and immigration.
Trzaskowski, a former minister and EU parliamentarian, espouses a liberal-conservative ideology akin to Tusk's. He advocates for a more progressive Poland, desiring to relax the abortion ban in the staunchly Catholic country and championing sexual minorities' rights. With his sights set on the presidency, Trzaskowski aspires to be a uniting leader who's open to dialogue with everyone.
Nawrocki, a 42-year-old political rookie, opposes Ukrainian refugees, migrants, and the adoption of the Euro. He perceives Ukraine's NATO membership as unfavorable and criticizes the influx of Ukrainian refugees for exploiting Poland's resources. However, a media report surfaced, accusing Nawrocki of procuring prostitutes for hotel guests two decades ago—an allegation he swiftly dismissed as an arrant fabrication.
Several voters have weighed in, expressing their support for Trzaskowski. Agnieszka Lewinska, a 56-year-old housewife, declared her backing for Trzaskowski based on his erudition and intelligence. Lila Chojecka, a 60-year-old pensioner, opted for Nawrocki, explaining that she values Catholic values and sees him as Poland's hoped-for salvation.
As divisive as this election is, it's evident from the heated rallies that tens of thousands of supporters for Trzaskowski and Nawrocki are determined to make their voices heard. Trzaskowski implored his supporters, "These elections offer the opportunity to build, to create—not to destroy."
Voting concluded on Sunday at 21:00. The exit poll results are expected shortly after, though the final tally might only be revealed on Monday. The voter turnout is a topic of great interest, as a surprisingly high number of Polish expats have registered to vote — an extraordinary 115,000 compared to the 70,000 in the 2020 elections, as Berlin's Polish embassy shared with the Funke media group.
In the first round, the far-right faction gained considerable ground. Together, the far-right candidate Mentzen and the anti-Semitic EU parliamentarian Grzegorz Braun garnered over 20 percent of votes. Overall, the majority of votes in the first round supported candidates from right-wing and far-right parties. The turnout soared over 67 percent.
The Polish presidency is more potent than Germany's Federal Presidency. The president serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, shapes foreign policy, and has the power to propose or veto laws.
Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki represent starkly contrasting pathways for Poland, which could significantly impact its connections with the EU, NATO, and Ukraine. A Nawrocki victory would pave the way for a more nationalist and potentially polarizing Poland.
- The upcoming presidential election in Poland, a significant member of the EU and NATO, may see a shift in employment policy, depending on whether the liberal EU politician Trzaskowski or the nationalist-backed newcomer Nawrocki wins.
- Future employment policies in Poland could be influenced by the two candidates' approaches towards issues such as immigration, support for Ukraine, and cultural values, which have been prevalent themes in the election campaign.
