WARSAW - This week, Karol Nawrocki will officially assume office as the new President of Poland. This political newcomer, a historian and former head of the Institute of National Remembrance, won the presidential election on June 1st with 50.89% of the vote. This represents a significant blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European and liberal agenda.

Nawrocki was supported by the right-wing populist party Law and Justice (PiS), although he officially ran as an independent. According to Fox News, he received strong support from the United States, including from former President Donald Trump, and participated in the CPAC conference in Poland, where he was also supported by Interior Minister Kristi Noem.

The United States sees his election as an opportunity to deepen military cooperation with Poland.

The victory was narrow – Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw and the Civic Platform candidate favored by Tusk, received 49.11%. According to the Washington Post, the result symbolizes strong resistance to Tusk's government, particularly in rural, conservative Poland.

Nawrocki is seen as a representative of a new nationalist, pro-Trump movement. In his political rhetoric, he emphasizes slogans such as "Poland first, Slavs first" and rejects further deepening of European integration. Instead, he advocates for a pro-American, pro-NATO orientation, while taking a hard line on immigration, promising to prioritize Polish citizens in access to social services and healthcare.

While the role of the President in Poland is largely ceremonial, he has the power of veto and influences foreign policy. Experts expect him to use his presidential powers to block reforms proposed by Prime Minister Tusk, particularly those related to judicial changes, the protection of LGBT rights, or pro-European integration.

The Guardian warns that his presidency can be understood as "Poland first, but Europe comes later."

Tensions between the new President and the Prime Minister are already emerging. Prime Minister Tusk leads a liberal, pro-European government since the end of 2023, but now faces strong opposition from the presidential office, which can veto laws or block the direction of the country.

After the election results, Tusk called for a vote of confidence in the Sejm (parliament) – a motion that his coalition survived in mid-June.

Nawrocki's personal past is also attracting attention. During the campaign, controversies surrounding his involvement in football hooliganism and associations with individuals from the criminal underworld were widely reported. He was also accused of controversially taking an apartment from an elderly man in exchange for care, which he allegedly did not provide. The candidate denied these accusations and described them as political campaign attacks.

gnews.cz - GH