Warsaw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Voting commenced in Poland on Sunday for a closely contested presidential election that will influence the nation’s political landscape. The leading candidates are pro-European Union Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and nationalist writer Karol Nawrocki.
Sunday marked the start of Poland’s high-stakes presidential election, which will determine the nation’s position on abortion, LGBTQ rights, and EU ties, as well as its political destiny. Polling places will open at 7 a.m. (0500GMT) and conclude at 9 p.m. (1900GMT). Exit poll findings will only be accessible following the conclusion of voting. Results should be available by Tuesday or Monday.
The front-runners are nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, who is supported by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, and pro-EU Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who is supported by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s moderate Civic Coalition. A runoff between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki is anticipated on June 1st, with Trzaskowski ahead with about 30% of the vote and Nawrocki trailing in the mid-20s.
Will Trzaskowski shift Poland’s stance on EU integration?
As reported by Reuters, While Nawrocki positions himself as a champion of conservative principles and national sovereignty, Trzaskowski has vowed to support LGBTQ protections and abortion rights.
Trzaskowski has committed to strengthening Poland’s position as a key player in European policymaking and collaborating with the government to reverse PiS’s judicial reforms.
The Confederation party’s far-right candidate, Slawomir Mentzen, the centre-right Poland 2050 party’s Speaker of the Parliament,t Szymon Holownia, and the Left’s Magdalena Biejat are also in the race.
Could the presidential veto block Tusk’s policy changes?
According to experts, despite having little executive powers, the Polish president has the ability to veto laws. This has made it possible for PiS ally and outgoing President Andrzej Duda to thwart Tusk’s attempts to reverse court reforms put in place under the PiS, which Tusk claims undermine democracy.
Is a runoff between top candidates inevitable on June 1?
The elections take place in the midst of a battle between the Polish prime minister and Andrzej Duda, the departing conservative president who has vetoed many policy reform initiatives from the Tusk government. While a Nawrocki president may impede the coalition’s goals, a Trzaskowski victory would probably relieve that deadlock.
Sławomir Mentzen, a far-right politician who ran on anti-immigration and anti-EU sentiments, may also be the kingmaker in the second round. The other contenders are Magdalena Biejat of the Left and Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Poland 2050, who is the speaker of the parliament.
