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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 Rafal Trzaskowski of the Civic Platform of the Liberal Opposition Party (PO).
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 favored relations with the United States, especially President Donald Trump, over 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 have been in the White House since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Trump praised the Polish leader for “doing a great job.”
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 arms 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 has been frozen under the Duda presidency and criticizes, in his words, the cleanliness of the army.
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 judiciary, supported by Duda and the ruling party, are heavily criticized by opposition from the country and the EU, who argue 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 procedures 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 Duda’s presidency “destroys the state, destroys state institutions and undermines the constitution.”
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.
At noon, he voted 24.73 percent. voters
Voter turnout in the second round of the Polish presidential election was 24.73 percent by noon on Sunday, the Polish National Electoral Commission (PKW) said at a press conference.
Voting in the elections, in which current Conservative President Andrzej Duda and the mayor of the liberal capital, Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, began at 7 p.m. Local time in the morning and will last until 9 p.m.
29,937,795 Poles have the right to vote in elections, including more than 519 thousand. Polish abroad. Of the 29 million. voters voted 7.2 million at noon. or 24.73 percent.
In the first round of the presidential election, turnout was similar at noon to 24.08 percent, with the overall final turnout on June 28. in the first round of the elections in 2006 it was 64.5 percent. – The highest in 25 years.
Extreme voter turnout suggests that the coronavirus pandemic will not deter Polish voters from going to the polls. Under strict security measures, there were long lines at the country’s polling stations. Polling stations limit the number of people and ask them to keep a distance of two meters from each other, to wear protective masks, to disinfect their hands and even bring their own pens.
According to the rules, in the second round of elections, people with disabilities, pregnant women, adults with children under the age of three and people over 60 have the priority of casting their vote in the polling stations.
In Poland, 37,891 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic, with the death of 1,571 patients.
11 candidates participated in the first round of the presidential elections. President Duda won the election, winning 43.5 percent. votes. Warsaw Mayor R. Trzaskowski was second with 30.4 percent. votes, but the politician expects to be voted in the second round by voters who cast their votes in the first round to other candidates. Public opinion polls predict approximate results for both candidates.
In Poland, the president is elected for five years.
In these elections, Poles can also choose whether to vote by mail or at polling stations.
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