Poles vote for a new president, because the concern about safety is great

Warsaw, Poland – Poland vote on Sunday in a presidential election in a time of increased security problems arising from the continuous war in neighboring Ukraine and the growing concerns that American dedication to Europe’s safety could weaken under President Donald Trump.

The top two leaders are Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal connected to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Karol Nawocki, a conservative historian without earlier political experience supported by the National Conservative Law and Justice Party.

Recent opinion polls show Trzaskowski with about 30% support and Nawrocki in the mid -1920s. Of a second round between the two, it is generally expected to take place on 1 June.

The election is also a test of the strength of other forces, including the far right.

Sławomir Mentzen, a hard-right candidate who combines populist Maga rhetoric with libertarian economy and a critical attitude towards the European Union, has politated in third place.

Ten other candidates are also on the mood. With such a pressure field and a requirement that a candidate receives more than 50% of the votes to win straight, a second round almost inevitable seemed.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500gmt) and close at 9 p.m. (1900gmt). Exit surveys are released when voting ends, with the results expected on Tuesday, possibly Monday.

The Polish authorities have reported attempts for foreign interference during the campaign, including denial-of-service attacks aimed at parties in Tusk’s Coalition on Friday and accusations of a state research institute that were financed from abroad from abroad.

Although the Prime Minister and the Parliament of Poland have the primary authority on domestic policy, the presidency has considerable power. The president serves as commander of the armed forces, plays a role in foreign and safety policy and can veto a veto legislation.

The conservative departing president, Andrzej Duda, has repeatedly used that power more than last year to obstruct the agenda of Tusk, for example blocking ambassadorial nominations and the use of his veto power to withstand the reversing of judicial and media changes during the law and the time of Justice in the power of power of 2015.

A Trzaskowski victory can be expected to end such an impasse. He has promised to support reforms of the courts and public media, both of which critics say they were politicized under law and justice. Tusk’s opponents say that he has also politized public media.

Nawrocki, which leads a historical institute of the state, has positioned itself as a defender of conservative values ​​and national sovereignty.