The Guardian view on Karol Nawrocki’s win: Poland first, perhaps – but Europe comes last | Editorial

EIt seems that the last presidential elections of Europe did not hand over a statesman but rather a slogan – “Poland first– And with it, the reprimand of the middle Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. The new head of the state of Poland Carol NorukiA historian of his approved governor Donald Trump. The unlikely rise of Mr. Noruki – from relative ambiguity to the presidency – refers to the consolidation of the unfortunate national grievance in Polish politics.

He is now ready to paralyze the agenda of Mr. Tusk and may hinder access to the Polish European Money – Using its presidential authority in the veto to prevent government legislation or simply rely on the impact of the conservative constitutional court. Main repairs – Judicial reform, civil partnerships and abortion rights Outside the table. For a country he once dreamed of consolidating the eastern wing of the European Union, it is a backward line.

The government of Mr. Tusk is an alliance born in a determination to overthrow the law of preservative and national justice (PIS), which gained full control of the government in 2015 and the implementation of comprehensive changes to the judiciary, the media and the media education. Clashes with Brussels Fears of the rule of law It was an advantage in his time in the office. However, the ideological alliance of Mr. Tusk swings under the weight of its contradictions. More binding on the opposition to the previous regime from a coherent vision, its alliance StumblingThe internal conflict between agricultural conservatives and urban progressive. She was contemplating a liberal candidate It can break the stalemate.

As a historian, Mr. Noruki will be aware of the winning PIS strategy. This mixes reactionary populism with a cultural reprobet that seeks to rewrite the near Poland past to attract opinion. The party aims to redesign the country’s history with controversial interpretations of Poland’s role in holocaust“DeccommunisationAnd the left sounding cash After 1989, liberalism.

Mr. Noruki Triumph By taking advantage of the conservative, rural and hostile feelings, but also by demonstrating as a strange person. The political beginner and former head of the historic institute of the state did not carry the party’s luggage and can coordinate PIS’s failures while pledging to prevent Mr. TUSK at every turn. A mixture of historical populism and Eurosic A string in Poland is still wrestling with its past and warned against Brussels. Meanwhile, the popularity of Mr. Tusk and his authority weakens: the left is called inactive, and the right accuses him of treason. His hope has proven that voters would tolerate paralysis for the sake of stability in its place. With President Noruki in his post until 2030, the main reforms are banned and it appears that a second term in 2027 is unlikely. Back to the far right of the extreme Confederation It threatens to integrate a non -liberal majority.

Mr. Tusk may follow secondary legislation to reach its way. He calls the trick of his allies with a Trust vote. However, unless the coalition proves that it can be ruled, disappointment deepens. Poland’s economic success – rooted in European Union’s funds, German supply chains and monetary sovereignty – produced a contradictory policy. like Jarosław Kuisz He noticed in the new policy of Poland, PIS took the Brussels money while it was outperforming its values. Mr. Task must defend democracy not only in words but with results. If the pro -Europe governments are not able to make a significant change, voters will fall on the empty authoritarian promises of certainty. To defeat the popular right, Europeans must prove that democracy works – not only in principle, but in people’s lives.

• Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you want to provide a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered to be published in our Messages Please section Click here.