WARSAW — Poland’s new President Karol Nawrocki was sworn in Wednesday morning in what his chief political rival, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, referred to as a “unhappy day.”
Nawrocki, backed by the populist Legislation and Justice (PiS) occasion that dominated Poland from 2015 to 2023, slammed Tusk’s centrist authorities in his inaugural speech: “It’s unimaginable to proceed governing on this method, and Poland shouldn’t appear to be it does immediately.”
Nawrocki is predicted to stall Tusk’s reform agenda till the subsequent parliamentary election set for 2027, which means the Poland is prone to see two years of political battle and impasse.
Poland’s president has a nationwide mandate and might suggest and veto laws (which Tusk’s coalition doesn’t have the votes to override), however the nation’s home and overseas insurance policies are largely beneath the management of the federal government run by the prime minister.
PiS legislators clapped and chanted Nawrocki’s identify throughout the speech, whereas Tusk and members of his Cupboard regarded on solemnly.
“I need to converse to all Poles for whom immediately is a tragic and disappointing day. I do know very effectively how you’re feeling. I perceive you,” Tusk mentioned in a video revealed simply minutes earlier than Nawrocki’s inauguration. “All of us believed that honesty, goodness, and love would prevail. What has occurred places our religion to a critical check.”
Nawrocki additionally referenced the bitter election marketing campaign, the place he was dogged by scandals starting from a soccer hooligan previous to a property deal that triggered a legal probe and accusations (which he denies) that he supplied prostitutes to lodge company whereas working as a safety guard.
He mentioned he gained “despite electoral propaganda and lies. Regardless of political theater and despite the contempt,” one thing he mentioned he would “forgive as a Christian.”
The brand new president laid out his agenda till the tip of his five-year time period, and there are numerous areas that may conflict with Tusk’s priorities.
Nawrocki mentioned he would block Poland’s accession to the euro, one thing the nation is dedicated to as an EU member and which the federal government has been fitfully transferring towards.
“I’ll, after all, assist relations inside the European Union, however I’ll by no means comply with the European Union taking away Poland’s powers, particularly in issues that aren’t enshrined within the European treaties,” he mentioned.
He additionally vowed that “Poland should return to the trail of the rule of legislation.”
That’s a jab on the Tusk’s authorities’s halting effort to revive judicial independence and eradicating judges accused of being improperly nominated beneath PiS — one thing made harder by resistance from outgoing PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda.
Nawrocki promised to proceed defending the authorized system created beneath PiS.
“I cannot promote or nominate judges who undermine the constitutional and authorized order of the Republic of Poland,” Nawrocki mentioned.
Tusk has tried to hurry up a revamp of the judicial system beneath new Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek, who has already begun driving out judges whose nominations are seen as improper.
In one other poke at Tusk, Nawrocki indicated one among his first initiatives would concern a challenge to construct a large new airport in central Poland. It was one of many flagship insurance policies of the previous PiS authorities however has been totally revised beneath the brand new authorities.
Nawrocki additionally restated some key pledges from his marketing campaign, together with opposing unlawful immigration and ruling out any enhance within the retirement age, whereas calling for a plan to step up housing development, a nod to the parliamentary left inside Tusk’s more and more fragile ruling coalition.
The one space the place Nawrocki is prone to see eye-to-eye with Tusk is protection. Poland has the best army funds of any NATO nation as a share of the financial system, is a key ally of the USA and is essential in efforts to produce weapons to Ukraine.
Nawrocki pledged to “assist all efforts to modernize the Polish military to make it the biggest NATO land pressure inside the European Union.” He additionally promised to “interact carefully with the U.S.” and “lead in constructing a resilient and accountable safety structure on NATO’s jap flank.”