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WARSAW, Poland — Poles started voting Sunday in a decisive presidential runoff that might set the course for the nation’s political future and its relations with the European Union.
The contest pits Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU determine, towards Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice celebration.
The final result will decide whether or not Poland continues alongside a nationalist path or pivots extra decisively towards liberal democratic norms. With conservative President Andrzej Duda finishing his second and remaining time period, the brand new president could have important affect over whether or not Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist authorities can fulfill its centrist agenda, given the presidential energy to veto legal guidelines.
Voting started at 7 a.m. native time and can finish at 9 p.m., when an Ipsos exit ballot is predicted. Final outcomes are prone to be introduced Monday. The runoff follows a tightly contested first spherical on May 18, by which Trzaskowski received simply over 31% and Nawrocki practically 30%, eliminating 11 different candidates.
The marketing campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to revive judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions, and promote constructive ties with European companions. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of conventional Polish values, skeptical of the EU, and aligned with U.S. conservatives, together with President Donald Trump.
Nawrocki’s candidacy has been clouded by allegations of previous connections to legal figures and participation in a violent avenue battle. He denies the legal hyperlinks however acknowledges having taken half in “noble” fights. The revelations haven’t appeared to dent his help amongst right-wing voters, a lot of whom see the allegations as politically motivated.
Amid rising safety fears over Russia’s struggle in neighboring Ukraine, each candidates help assist to Kyiv, although Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, whereas Trzaskowski helps it sooner or later.
Nawrocki’s marketing campaign has echoed themes fashionable on the American proper, together with an emphasis on conventional values. His supporters really feel that Trzaskowski, together with his pro-EU views, would hand over management of key Polish affairs to bigger European powers like France and Germany.
Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him somebody who would defend democratic values beneath strain from authoritarian forces throughout the globe.
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