took the oath of office as Poland’s new president on Wednesday.
Nawrocki, a political novice, led , in which he had the backing of US President Donald Trump.
The prime minister in Poland has most day-to-day power, but the president has power to initiate or veto laws and influence foreign policy.
What did Nawrocki say in his first speech?
Nawrocki vowed to be the voice of Poles who want the country to retain its sovereignty as part of the European Union.
He also said he opposed illegal migration and joining the euro single currency, and called for revamping the Polish constitution.
“Recently, the Polish constitution has been violated so regularly that we, as the political class, must begin working on solutions for a new constitution that will be ready for adoption, I hope and believe, in 2030,” he said.
Nawrocki’s election victory was a major blow for , a former European Council president.
Tusk had already been at loggerheads with over several issues. He’s expected to have even more tension with the new president, as the political climate heats up before the 2027 general election.
Who is Karol Nawrocki?
The 42-year-old was a historian with no political experience before campaigning.
Nawrocki is officially non-partisan, although he joined the race as a candidate backed by the right-wing conservative .
His conservative supporters view him as a figure of traditional, patriotic values.
In the months leading up to the election, he was embroiled in a series of scandals, including one over property tax and another over allegedly arranging sex workers for his clients in the past. He denied the allegations.
During his campaign, the held its first meeting in Poland to give Nawrocki a boost. In May, he met Trump at the White House and claimed the US president had told him: “You will win.”
Nawrocki’s campaign motto was “Poland first, Poles first,” and he sees the EU as a threat to Polish sovereignty.
He has also spoken against support for Ukraine and its bid to join the EU or NATO.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
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