Poland: Invested as president, conservative Karol Nawrocki wants to avoid his country's "decline"

Karol Nawrocki, 42, who won the second round of the presidential election on June 1, spoke out for "the Poland that is in the European Union but is not the European Union and is and will remain Poland." "We must fight those who are pushing the nation toward decline and degradation," he insisted, quoting Ignacy Paderewski, a Polish prime minister from the early 20th century.

The new head of state also stressed the importance of Poland's alliance with the United States and promised that his country would play an active role in NATO, but made no mention of Ukraine at all. He criticized the current Polish government, that of Donald Tusk, saying that it was "no longer possible to govern in this way," announcing a series of legislative initiatives, particularly in the economic sphere, aimed at "awakening the aspirations of the Polish people."

"A real Pole"

Donald Tusk, for his part, told the press that Karol Nawrocki had "spoken quite frankly about the confrontation with the government" in his inaugural speech. "And of course we are ready for it," he insisted, before adding: "We will firmly defend the Constitution" if the president seeks to encroach on the government's powers.

For his part, Karol Nawrocki has repeatedly stated that he considers the current four-party coalition government to be "the worst in the history" of democratic Poland. During his inauguration, several thousand people from across the country gathered in front of Parliament and in other locations in the capital, Warsaw, to express their support for the head of state.

"He doesn't grovel in front of Brussels," commented Jan Smolinski, a 75-year-old retired miner, exclaiming afterwards: "He's a real Pole, flesh and blood." Marietta Borcz, a 57-year-old dental assistant, said it was "important" to her that Karol Nawrocki "is Catholic and defends Christian values." During the day, he attended a mass for the Fatherland. In the afternoon, during an official ceremony, he is to take over as supreme commander of the Polish armed forces.

In the second round of the presidential election, which he won by a narrow margin, Karol Nawrocki was supported by the main opposition party, the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS). He defeated the pro-European Rafal Trzaskowski, a serious setback for the coalition that has been in power for almost two years and confirms the strong political polarization in this NATO and EU member country, a neighbor and major supporter of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Elected for a five-year term, the head of state primarily influences foreign and defense policy in Poland, but can also propose laws and veto those passed by parliament. Karol Nawrocki replaces conservative Andrzej Duda as president, who has reached the end of his second term. The pro-EU government was already at odds with him on a number of important issues, including respect for the rule of law and the liberalization of abortion.

A novice in domestic politics and international relations, this historian is an admirer of Donald Trump, whom he met briefly at the White House shortly before the first round of voting on May 18. During his campaign, he notably opposed the idea of Ukraine joining the Atlantic Alliance and criticized him for not having "shown gratitude for what the Poles have done."