In what is anticipated to be a close election between the liberal mayor of Warsaw and a conservative historian, Polish voters are casting their ballots to choose the next president.
After the election’s close at 9 p.m. (05:00 GMT), polls opened at 7 a.m. (GMT). On Monday, the contest’s final official results, which will be announced by 13 candidates, are anticipated.
Rafal Trzaskowski, the pro-European mayor of the capital, and Karol Nawrocki, a historian supported by the country’s ruling Law and Justice party, are the front-runners.
A run-off on June 1 is likely because neither candidate is expected to pass the required 50% for victory.
Whether voters support a return to the nation’s pro-European path led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk or those who support a return to the nation’s nationalist vision of Law and Justice, which ruled the nation from 2015 to 2023, will be closely monitored during the election.
After losing to Law and Justice, which had repeatedly fought with the European Union, Tusk was elected prime minister in December 2023.
The Polish president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, controls foreign policy, and has veto power over laws. He also has limited executive authority.
Security concerns are prevalent.
At a time when Poland, a crucial NATO and EU member bordering war-torn Ukraine, and worries that the United States’ commitment to European security might wane in the President Donald Trump era, has the campaign largely revolved around foreign policy.
In contrast to Law and Justice, which frequently clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law concerns, Trzaskowski, the centre-right Civic Platform deputy leader of Tusk, has pledged to cement Poland’s position as a major player in Europe.
Trzaskowski told state broadcaster TVP Info on Friday that “I would undoubtedly strengthen relations with our partners within NATO and the EU.”
With Nawrocki portraying himself as a protector of conservative values and Trzaskowski receiving support for his proclamations to support abortion and LGBTQ rights, social issues have also been a big focus on the campaign trail.
A 41-year-old employee of the tourism agency Malgorzata Mikoszewska revealed to the AFP news agency that she was a fan of Trzaskowski’s liberal outlook on social issues.
She said, “Above all, I hope the law on abortion and sexual minorities will be liberalized.”
Apartment scandal
When Nawrocki and Trump met in the White House’s Oval Office this month, Nawrocki’s campaign reacted favorably.
Then, it took a hit because of allegations that he allegedly offered an elderly man a life-long care package while purchasing an apartment in Gdansk. The allegations were refuted by Nawrocki.
Polish authorities have reported attempts to ingrain political ads on Facebook from foreign sources during the campaign, including denial-of-service attacks targeting the ruling coalition’s websites and allegations made by a state research institute.
The government would be paralyzed under Nawrocki’s leadership, according to political scientist Anna Materska-Sosnowska, who is also the president.
She said that if he wins, “the populists will reappear with renewed force” in the upcoming general election.
Source: Aljazeera
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