Nawrocki wins election: Tusk faces question of trust and political crisis!

Nawrocki wins election: Tusk faces question of trust and political crisis!

In Poland, opposition presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki has won the election, bringing significant political changes. Nawrocki, a 42-year-old right-wing conservative and historian, was able to prevail against the liberal candidate Donald Tusk. Tusk now plans to ask parliament for a vote of confidence, which is seen as the first test for the three-party coalition that he has led since the end of 2023. Nawrocki's victory is particularly attributed to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who described his return to power as a "red card" for Tusk's government.

Tusk has emphasized in the past that undoing damage to the rule of law that took place during the PiS government from 2015 to 2023 is his government's most important project. However, corresponding draft laws were blocked by incumbent President Andrzej Duda. It is also expected that Nawrocki, who has significantly more power than his predecessor, will act similarly or even harder and thus pose major challenges to Tusk.

Political coalitions and challenges

With the vote of confidence, Tusk plans to test the support of his coalition partners. While Tusk emphasizes that he does not want to withdraw, the prospects for a stable government are uncertain. Political infighting is to be expected as Nawrocki is determined to bring down Tusk's government. In this challenging situation, the actors have to position themselves not only in their own country, but also in the European context.

Nawrocki used anti-German rhetoric during the election campaign and demanded reparations from Germany. He also signed a controversial eight-point plan from right-wing extremist Slawomir Mentzen and pledged not to sign a law ratifying Ukraine's accession to NATO. Such positions could further increase tensions between Poland and the EU and create challenges in German-Polish relations.

Presidential Power and the Future

The president in Poland has significantly more powers than the federal president in Germany, including the right to veto laws. In order to override a possible veto from Nawrocki, the government needs a majority of 60 percent in parliament, which the center-left alliance does not have. These political dynamics will shape the coming months and influence relations and the political landscape in Poland and beyond its borders. Tusk could soon face new elections, adding further uncertainty to political developments.