Polish right-wing opposition candidate Karol Naulocki narrowly won the second round of votes in Sunday’s presidential election, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).
Here’s what you need to know about the outcome:
Who won the presidential election in Poland?
Nawrocki won with 50.89% of the vote. The NEC website was updated early on Monday.
He defeated liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Truzaskovsky, who secured 49.11% of the vote.
The results were surprising as the exit poll predicted a narrow loss for Now Rocky.
What happened in the first round of the election?
The first round took place on May 18th, and as expected, none of the 13 presidential candidates were able to reach the 50% threshold.
Trzaskowski won 31.4% of the votes, while Nawrocki won 29.5%. As top two candidates, Nawrocki and Trzaskowski went on to leak.
Who is Poland’s new president, Karol Naulocki?
At 42, Nawrocki is a conservative historian and amateur boxer.
He competed as an independent candidate supported by the Law and Justice (PIS) of Andrzej Duda, the leading opposition party in Poland.
As a historian, the newly elected president’s academic work centers around anti-communist resistance. At this point, he runs the National Memorial Institute, a Warsaw-based government-funded research institute that studies Poland’s history during World War II and the era of communism until 1990.
At the Institute, Nowrocky eliminated the Soviet monument and upset Russia.
He managed a World War II museum in the city of Gdansk, Poland from 2017 to 2021.
Nawrocki had controversy. In 2018 he published a book on gangs that was infamous under the pseudonym “Tadeusz Batyr.” In public comments, Nowrocky and Batil praised each other without revealing that they were the same person.
US President Donald Trump’s administration threw that weight behind Now Rocky in the Polish election. The US Group Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held its first meeting in Poland on May 27th. “We need to select the right leader,” said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem at the CPAC event.
Calling Trzaskowski “the absolute train wreck of leaders,” Noem said: “I had the opportunity to meet and listen to Karol.
How did Nawrocki win?
Experts say the consistency of Nowrocky’s message on the campaign trail may have earned him his victory.
“People choose people who think they are strong, clear and consistent,” Liliana Smeech, chairman of the Foundation Council of the Warsaw Institute, a Polish nonprofit think tank specializing in geopolitics and international affairs, told Al Jazeera.
“Even in the accusations against him, voters preferred his firmness over the constant rebranding of Trzaskowski. Trzaskowski tried to do everything to everyone and no one convinced them.
Unlike Trzaskowski, Smiech said Nawrocki “didn’t please everyone.”
But he was able to please enough voters to win.
What is the importance of Nawrocki’s victory?
Most of Polish power is in the hands of the Prime Minister. Incumbent Donald Task led the central coalition government, with Trzaskowski being a candidate for the ruling alliance.
Nawrocki was deeply critical of the Tusk administration. The president has the ability to reject the law and influence military and foreign policy decisions.
On the campaign trail, Nowrocky has pledged to cut taxes and separate Poland from the European Union agreement on migration and asylum. Also, European green trades will set a benchmark for environmental protection in the EU, including a complete halt of net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Like other candidates, including Trzaskowski, Nawrocki has called for Poland to spend up to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. According to World Bank data, Poland spent 3.8% of its GDP on military spending in 2023.
“Some people were hoping for a wave of support for the left or liberal aspect, especially among the youth. That didn’t happen. Now Rocky won in the 18-39-year-old group,” Smiech said.
“It’s a clear message. People still care about sovereignty, tradition, and strong leadership. Even young voters have not bought the idea of ”new progressive Poland.” ”
What was the key issue in the Polish election?
The Russian-Ukraine War, which began in February 2022, is a matter of concern for Poles fearing the ripple effect of Russian attacks on Poland, as it is close to Ukraine.
Poland initially threw full support behind Ukraine, but tensions are rising between Poland and Ukraine.
Nawrocki is opposed to NATO and Ukraine, which will join the EU.
But at the same time, Poland and Naulocky remain deeply suspicious of Russia.
On May 12, the Polish Foreign Ministry said the investigation revealed that the Russian intelligence agency had coordinated a massive fire at a shopping centre in Warsaw in May 2024. This is why multiple candidates proposed to raise their defence budget to 5% of GDP in this election.
Abortion is an important issue in Poland and has some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. In August 2024, Prime Minister Tass implemented one of his important campaign promises and acknowledged that he lacked sufficient Parliamentary support to change the abortion law. Pis, who supported Nawrocki, opposes the legalization of abortions.
Other issues include economic concerns regarding taxes, housing costs and public transport.
What’s next?
Nawrocki is scheduled to be sworn on August 6th.
Smeich said Nawrocki needs to prove that he is good at not only campaigning but also governing.
“Expectations are high. People want people to protect Polish interests, be pressured and not succumb to the media and foreign influence. He is beginning his term in a tough moment.
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