Poland: Nationalist Karol Nawrocki officially sworn in as president

Elected in June with only 50.8% of the vote , the new president of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, was officially sworn in this Wednesday.

The 42-year-old nationalist historian specializing in the criminal world is a novice in politics and international relations. He is known to be an admirer of Donald Trump , who warmly congratulated him upon his victory.

Supported by the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS, nationalist), Karol Nawrocki defeated the pro-European Rafal Trzaskowski, a serious setback for the pro-EU coalition in place for almost two years, and which confirms the strong political polarization in Poland, a neighbor and major supporter of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

With his slogan "Poland first, Poles first," he targeted the million Ukrainian refugees living in the country, a member of NATO but also of the European Union, of which he is also critical.

While he has pledged to maintain support for Ukraine, which has been fighting the Russian army since February 2022, Karol Nawrocki opposes its membership in NATO and denounces the aid given to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

He also criticized kyiv for not "showing gratitude for what the Poles have done," and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of "insolence" towards Poland.