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In the second round of the presidential elections, the current President Andrzej Duda, supported by the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), competes with the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, of the Civic Platform (PO) of the Party of the Liberal Opposition.
We review the main differences in the attitudes of 48 politicians on foreign policy, security and constitutional affairs.
Foreign policy
During his five-year term, Duda preferred relations with the United States, especially President Donald Trump, to relations with the European Union.
Duda has said that relations with Washington are essential for his country. He called the EU, which Poland joined in 2004, “an imaginary community from which we have little benefit.”
Just four days before the first round of the Polish presidential election, Duda visited Washington and became the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump praised the Polish leader for “doing a great job.”
Photo by Scanpix / Andrzej Duda
Meanwhile, Trzaskowski is known as a Europhile who worked in Brussels and served as Minister for European Affairs.
The current mayor of Warsaw criticizes the “deterioration” of Poland’s relations with Brussels during the Duda presidency and promises “to restore Poland’s position in the EU”.
When asked which foreign country he would visit first if elected, he said he would first invite French and German leaders to Poland.
Security
Throughout Duda’s presidency, Poland has prioritized the purchase of weapons from the United States. The country has acquired American F-35 fighters, Patriot missiles, and Black Hawk helicopters.
In addition, Warsaw terminated the contract for the purchase of helicopters with Airbus Helicopters. Such a move damaged the country’s relations with France.
Trzaskowski claims that the modernization of the Polish armed forces was frozen during the Duda presidency and criticizes, in his words, the cleanliness of the army.
Photo by Scanpix / Rafal Trzaskowski
He promised to carry out a “national security audit”.
Both candidates are in favor of the presence of the US and NATO forces in Poland, which is considered an important deterrent to Russia.
Both promise to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, more than the minimum 2 percent required by NATO. GDP indicator.
Furthermore, they both strongly support the European sanctions on Russia imposed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Constitution
The reforms of the Polish judicial system, supported by Duda and the ruling party, are strongly criticized by the opposition of the country and the EU, who claim that these reforms are contrary to both the constitution and European standards.
Earlier this year, Vice President of the European Commission Vera Jourova called the reforms “demolition”.
Since 2017, Brussels has launched several infringement proceedings for reforms that Duda says are vital in the fight against corruption and the influence of former communist officials in the Polish justice system.
Trzaskowski claims that during Duda’s presidency “the state is being destroyed, state institutions are being destroyed and the constitution is being mentioned.”
He promised to comply with the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Communities on these reforms.
During the presidential campaign, Duda also engaged in anti-gay rhetoric and presented himself as an advocate of traditional Catholic family values. The president compared “LGBT ideology” to a new form of communist indoctrination.
His rival, the mayor of Warsaw, meanwhile, says he supports gay rights and would support same-sex civil partnerships, although, like Duda, he opposes allowing gay couples to adopt.
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