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Nationalist Nawrocki becomes Polish president – Tusk loses
Karol Nawrocki has been sworn in as Poland's new president, a setback for Donald Tusk. The political landscape faces challenges and possible conflicts with the government.
Nationalist Nawrocki becomes Polish president – Tusk loses
Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian and supporter of Donald Trump's MAGA movement, was sworn in as president of Poland on Wednesday. This could lead to conflict with the centrist government and cool relations with Ukraine.
The swearing in of office and political implications
Nawrocki took the oath of office in a ceremony in the Polish parliament. His election victory, backed by the nationalist opposition Law and Justice party (PiS), dashed Prime Minister Donald Tusk's hopes of a pro-European course he had charted for the EU's largest eastern member and sent his government reeling in the polls.
Veto options and government conflicts
Poland now faces a continuation of the political deadlock seen under nationalist former President Andrzej Duda. Nawrocki could use his veto power to obstruct a government agenda that includes rolling back judicial reforms introduced by PiS, which critics see as threatening the independence of the courts.
Popular suggestions and financial challenges
Nawrocki is also planning measures such as tax breaks, which are likely to be popular with many voters but are difficult for a government with a limited budget to implement.
"As prime minister, I have worked with three presidents so far," Tusk, who was also prime minister from 2007 to 2014, wrote in a post on X. "What will it be like with the fourth? We'll get it done."
Change in foreign policy
The new president currently sees no place for Ukraine in NATO or the EU, which represents a significant change of course compared to Duda. However, as president, Nawrocki would have to agree to the ratification of new members joining NATO.
The role of the USA and the EU
While Tusk has said that the European Union should play a larger role in defense issues alongside NATO, PiS has argued that this would undermine Poland's alliance with the United States. “The United States is undoubtedly our priority partner,” said Nawrocki spokesman Rafal Leskiewicz.
Political uncertainty and voter protests
Although Nawrocki is considered a political newcomer and was largely unknown to the public before PiS supported him, there are many uncertainties surrounding his presidency. “I don’t know whether he will fully implement PiS’s policies or whether he will try to develop his own initiatives,” said Andrzej Rychard, a sociologist at the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Nawrocki won a turbulent election campaign in which allegations about his past frequently dominated the headlines. These included, among other things, the fact that he had purchased a second property from an older man for which he had promised care which he did not deliver. Nawrocki denied the allegations but admitted taking part in an organized fight between soccer hooligans, reinforcing his tough image as an amateur boxer.
Protests against the election
After the election, supporters of defeated Liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski filed thousands of complaints with the Supreme Court about irregularities at some polling stations, but they were not enough to significantly affect the result. The PiS accuses its liberal opponents of undermining the will of the people. PiS supporters are planning a demonstration in the capital on the day of the swearing-in. “If you can, come to Warsaw… for the swearing in of the president,” wrote PiS MP Michal Wojcik on X. “Let us show that the patriots stand with Karol Nawrocki on this important day.”