Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Warsaw (AP): Conservative Karol Nawrocki won Poland's weekend presidential runoff election, according to the final vote count on Monday.
Nawrocki won 50.89% of votes in a very tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%.
The close race had the country on edge since a first round two weeks earlier and through the night into Monday, revealing deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union.
An early exit poll released on Sunday evening suggested Trzaskowski was headed to victory before updated polling began to reverse the picture hours later.
The outcome indicates that Poland can be expected to take a more nationalist path under its new leader, who was backed by US President Donald Trump.
The role of a president in Poland
Most day-to-day power in the Polish political system rests with a prime minister chosen by the parliament. However, the president's role is not merely ceremonial. The office holds the power to influence foreign policy and to veto legislation.
Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a conservative whose second and final term ends on Aug 6.
A headache for Tusk
Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power in late 2023 at the end of a coalition government that spans a broad ideological divide — so broad that it hasn't been able to fulfill certain of Tusk's electoral promises, such as loosening the restrictive abortion law.
But Duda's veto power has been another obstacle. It has prevented Tusk from fulfilling promises to reverse laws that politicized the court system in a way that the European Union declared to be undemocratic.
Now it appears Tusk will have no way to fulfil those promises, which he had made both to voters and to the EU.
A former boxer, historian and political novice
Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian, was tapped by the Law and Justice party as part of its push for a fresh start.
The party governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, when it lost power to a centrist coalition led by Tusk. Some political observers predicted the party would never make a comeback, and Nawrocki was chosen as a new face who would not be burned by the scandals of the party's eight years of rule.
Nawrocki has most recently been the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, which embraces nationalist historical narratives. He led efforts to topple monuments to the Soviet Red Army in Poland, and Russia responded by putting him on a wanted list, according to Polish media reports.
Nawrocki's supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic values. Those who oppose secular trends, including LGBTQ+ visibility, have embraced him, viewing him as a reflection of the traditional values they grew up with.
The Trump factor
Trump made it clear he wanted Nawrocki as Poland's president.
The conservative group CPAC held its first meeting in Poland last week to give Nawrocki a boost. Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security Secretary and a prominent Trump ally, strongly praised Nawrocki and urged Poles to vote for him.
The US has about 10,000 troops stationed in Poland and Noem suggested that military ties could deepen with Nawrocki as president.
A common refrain from Nawrocki's supporters is that he will restore “normality,” as they believe Trump has done. US flags often appeared at Nawrocki's rallies, and his supporters believed that he offered a better chance for good ties with the Trump administration.
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Mamata alleges EC playing 'nice game' for BJP, questions transfer of officers ahead of Eid
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the EC, alleging that senior administrative and police officers were being transferred ahead of the assembly polls at the behest of the BJP.
She warned that the poll body and the saffron party would be responsible if any untoward incident happens in the state.
Addressing reporters while announcing the Trinamool Congress candidate list for the 2026 assembly elections, Banerjee questioned the timing of the changes in key administrative posts, particularly ahead of Eid.
"Why are senior officers being transferred just before Eid? Are there plans to trigger riots before elections?" she said.
The chief minister alleged that the list of officers who were transferred was prepared at the BJP's office and the decision was merely implemented by the Election Commission.
She further alleged that some officials from outside West Bengal had been brought in to assist the BJP in the electoral process.
"They have brought in some people from outside the state to help the BJP," she said.
Accusing the poll panel of acting under political pressure, the TMC supremo said the EC was "playing a nice game on behalf of the BJP".
"They should directly campaign for the BJP," she said.
Banerjee also alleged that the transfers were aimed at facilitating the movement of money and arms for the BJP ahead of the polls.
"The officers have been replaced so that money and arms are smoothly transferred to the BJP without any hindrance," she claimed.
Warning of consequences if any incident occurs during the election period, Banerjee said both the BJP and the Election Commission would have to answer for it.
"If something untoward happens, the BJP and the EC will be responsible. If something goes wrong, then they should be answerable," she said.
The TMC chief also attacked the BJP over its political campaign in the state and accused the party of using central agencies against her government.
After the poll dates were announced on Sunday, the EC transferred Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena. It subsequently removed DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata CP Supratim Sarkar.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases, on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
