Warsaw: A war next door in Ukraine. Migration pressure on boundaries. Russian sabotage throughout the region. Doubt about American commitment to Europe’s protection. On Sunday in Poland’s presidential election, security is large. Therefore, ask the strength of the country about a democracy and its place in the European Union. One of the most important tasks of the new President would be to maintain strong relations with the United States, widely seen as necessary for the survival of a country in a rapidly unstable neighborhood. In this central European country of 38 million people, a conversion voter in a crowded region will cast a ballot to replace the conservative optimal Andrez Duda, the second and the last five-year term ends in August. With 13 candidates, a decisive first round victory is unlikely. Some openly appear without or at the peak, expressing supporters or antisementic ideas. A television debate was dragged for about four hours this week. There are calls to increase the threshold to qualify for the race. An runoff is widely expected of a runoff on 1 June, with the Rafael Tzscowski, Liberal Mayor of Warsaw, and a conservative historian supported by the Karol Navarki, Law and Justice Party, which was run to Poland from 2015 to 2023, with elections pointing towards a possible performance. The geography of a nation on the front line, the geography of Poland, gave the importance to the election. On the border of Kaliningrad Exclusive, Belarus and War-Torn Ukraine in Russia, on the border of many Western colleagues, Poland occupies an important position with NATO’s eastern flank and serves as a major logistics hub for military aid for Ukraine. The apprehensions are increasing that if Russia strongly prevails in Ukraine’s full -scale invasion, it can target other countries that free themselves from the control of Moscow about 35 years ago. Against that background, the election will shape Warsaw’s foreign policy in a moment of growing tension on the trans-nlantic unity and European defense. The two prominent candidates continued to continue US military engagement in Europe. TRZASKOWSKI more emphasizes deepening relations with the European Union, while Nawrocki is more doubtful about Brussels and promotes a nationalist agenda. When law and justice organized power, it collided with the European Union institutions on judicial freedom, media freedom and migration.
Why the President matters
While Poland is a parliamentary democracy, Presidency has a significant impact. The President acts as a commander-in-chief, keeps veto power, shapes foreign policy, and plays a symbolic role in the national discourse. Under Duda, the office advanced the conservative agenda of law and justice. Since Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Centrist alliance came to power at the end of 2023, Duda has blocked major reforms aimed at restoring judicial freedom and repairing relations with the European Union. “The stakes are very high for the ruling alliance and for people related to the future of Polish democracy,” said Jesk Kurchakzik, president of the Institute of Public Affairs of a Warsaw Think Tank. “This is about democratic reform and restoration of law rule, and it can only be with cooperation with the next president.” Election is also important for law and justice, Kucarkzek said: “Its future can be resulted on the result as a major political force.”
Two visions for Poland
Both Trzaskowski and Nawrocki have promised to support Ukraine and maintain strong defense relations, but their philosophy for Poland changes rapidly on the role of European Union and domestic social policy. The 52 -year -old Tzskowski is a former President contenders and a senior person in the Civic Platform, led by the Centrist Party led by the Tusk. He is running on a supporter European platform and has promised to protect judicial freedom and rebuild democratic institutions. Supporters described him as a modern person who represents a metropolitan, external face Poland. He speaks foreign language, marched in LGBTQ+ parade and appealed to young, urban voters. The progressive views of Trzaskowski once highlight the development of the more conservative citizen forum. The 42 -year -old Navarki, shows how the party supported him, law and justice, turning to the right as support for difficult rights. Nawrocki, who is not a member of a law and justice party, is the head of the National-Back Institute of National Remembrations, who investigate the offenses of Nazi and Communist-era. He has praised conservatives for eliminating Soviet monuments and promoting patriotic education, but he has to face criticism for playing on inexperience and anti -German and other resentment. He is also entangled in some scams. Earlier this month, Navarki met US President Donald Trump at the White House, a symbolic moment welcomed by the law and justice -friendly media, proof that he would be the best man to maintain a relationship with the United States. Critics saw it as an intervention by Trump’s administration. This week Nawrocki attended the campaign mark by Romanian Nationalist George Simian, who faces a runoff vote for the presidency on Sunday. Simian is seen as a supporter Russian by critics, Tusk leads to tweet: “Russia is pleased. Five days before the presidential elections in Poland and Romania, five days before the presidential elections, Navrocki and his supporter Russian Romanian counterpart George Simian. Everything is clear.”
