A contentious presidential election in Poland is poised to determine whether the country’s political stalemate continues or ends, with a liberal candidate backed by the ruling coalition facing off against a conservative opponent with ties to the far-right.
Tusk Government Anxious Ahead of Poland’s Presidential Vote
The government’s approval ratings are down because the president is blocking its reform plans. The outcome of Sunday’s presidential election will determine whether the stalemate continues or ends.
Key Player: Rafal Trzaskowski and the Civic Platform Party
Rafal Trzaskowski, who is ahead in the polls, has the backing of Poland’s ruling coalition. ‘The 53-year-old politician is a seasoned leader with a background in administration, digitization, and foreign affairs.’ He belongs to the left wing of Tusk’s Civic Platform party.
Rafał Trzaskowski is a Polish politician and lawyer who has served as the President of Warsaw since 2018.
Born on October 1, 1972, in Warsaw, Poland, he graduated from the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Law.
Trzaskowski previously worked as the Minister of Digital Affairs and as a member of the European Parliament.
He is known for his liberal and pro-European policies.
Trzaskowski supports a liberal abortion law that permits terminations up to the 12th week of pregnancy. He has also removed crucifixes from the offices of Warsaw City Hall. Additionally, he is one of the few politicians in Poland to defend the EU’s climate policy.
The Challenge: Karol Nawrocki and the Law and Justice Party
Karol Nawrocki, the 42-year-old historian from Gdansk, has the backing of the opposition conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Although officially an independent candidate, Nawrocki has the support of PiS leader ‘Jaroslaw Kaczynski’.
Karol Nawrocki is a Polish diplomat and politician.
He serves as the current Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
Born in 1959, Nawrocki has extensive experience in sports administration, having worked with various organizations, including the Polish National Olympic Committee and the International University Sports Federation.
Nawrocki’s campaign has been hit by scandals, including allegations of contacts with the underworld and a social housing apartment controversy. However, he has transferred the apartment to a Christian charitable organization that supports homeless people while protesting his innocence in the affair.
The Wild Card: Slawomir Mentzen
Slawomir Mentzen, the candidate from the extreme right-wing Confederation Liberty and Independence, is running for office. He has been touring the country since last fall and boasts about holding over 340 campaign events. Mentzen’s program includes fundamental criticism of Poland’s political situation and a radical ban on abortion.
The Stalemate: Tusk’s Government and the Presidential Election
The Polish government’s reform plans have been blocked by President ‘Andrzej Duda’, leading to disappointment and discontent across the country. The outcome of the presidential election will determine whether the stalemate continues or ends.
Tusk chose to back Trzaskowski for president because he is seen as a candidate with the best chance of winning despite his narrow loss in the last presidential election. However, victory for Trzaskowski is not a foregone conclusion, and many voters who support parties in the ruling coalition may stay at home or vote for other candidates.
The article suggests that Tusk’s government will be anxious until the very last vote is counted on June 1.
