söndag 1 juni 2025
Presidential election in Poland
Poland faces a choice of path when the presidential election is to be decided
A lot is at stake when Poland's presidential election is to be decided today. The election looks to be very close and is being followed with excitement and nervousness by the outside world, writes TT.
The election is between the national conservative right-wing candidate Karol Nawrocki and Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. The first round was already close, mainly because Nawrocki made a stronger choice than expected. This despite the fact that he has been repeatedly surrounded by revelations about connections to the underworld and crime.
If Nawrocki wins, Donald Trump will gain another important ally in the EU. A victory for Trzaskowski, on the other hand, would make life easier for the country's pro-Western Prime Minister Donald Tusk. With an ally in the presidency, it will be easier for Tusk to get his policies through.
Swedish expert on Polish presidential candidate: “Is a scoundrel, period”
National conservative Karol Nawrocki could be elected president of Poland today. Together with like-minded people such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, he could then try to put a damper on the EU, including with regard to support for Ukraine, writes TT.
Author and Poland expert Peter Johnsson describes the scandal-plagued Nawrocki as “of a different caliber” compared to Orbán and Fico. He believes that this is not least visible in the low support in his home region of Gdansk.
– Nawrocki is from Gdansk, and he received 16 percent of the votes there last time. 16. They know he is a scoundrel, period, he says.
Instead, he is supported mainly by voters in the poor parts of the east, where many mostly follow propaganda media, according to Johnsson.
Nawrocki has been repeatedly linked to crime and the underworld, but despite this, he made an unexpectedly strong showing in the first round. In the second round, he will face the liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
US-China Relations
The Game Behind Rubio's Statement: Putting Pressure on China
Behind US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that Chinese students' visas should be revoked lies a trade ploy. Sources tell Axios.
The US administration hopes that it will increase the pressure on China to continue selling rare earth metals – something that China planned to use as an ace up its sleeve during negotiations on tariffs.
The metals are crucial for several industries in the US, especially the tech industry where they are used in, among other things, the production of batteries.
Analysis: Trump cannot push as he wants
Donald Trump's foreign policy eyebrows are growing.
Getting world leaders to do what you want is more difficult than institutions and companies, writes Stephen Collinson in an analysis for CNN. Trump has tried, without success, to pressure Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. He also believed that he could pressure China's Xi Jinping to align himself with the ranks in the battle over tariffs.
"Powerful leaders pursue their national self-interests [...] Most are not receptive to personal appeals without some form of return," writes Collinson.
The US's frosty relationship with China gained another layer during the Shangri-La security conference. Namely, Europe's approach to the country, write Greg Torode and Fanny Potkin in an analysis for Reuters.
Several European nations showed that their approach to China and Asia will not be affected by US pressure. "Beyond the rhetoric, regional military experts and analysts say that the European presence - and ambitions - in the region may not be so easy to change," they write.
Political situation in Mexico
Judges campaign on TikTok and Tinder in unique election
In the unique election, Mexicans will elect all judges in the country's entire judiciary. And the new election process has been marred by a quickly thrown together system, which has meant that judges are not allowed to campaign, among other things. Many have therefore taken to social media to get their message out, reports the New York Times.
One candidate has campaigned on Tinder. There, voters can "match with justice" and chat with him about issues. Another took to TikTok and compared himself to the Mexican cartoon icon "Dora the explorer", but called himself "Dora the transformer".
But the regulation of campaigning has been met with criticism. Some argue that candidates with political experience and better resources have a huge advantage in campaigns and that important issues are prioritized in order to make a splash on the internet instead.
Historic judicial election in Mexico – everyone should vote
Today, Mexicans are going to a unique election where they will elect every single judge in the country's entire judicial system. A total of 2,600 legal positions are to be filled and 7,700 candidates have run, AP reports.
Behind the historic election is a reform instituted by the ruling Morena party. The goal is to clean up the legal system, which is said to be riddled with corruption. But critics say the election risks damaging democracy and opens the way for cartels to gain a grip on legal power.
A major focus will be on those elected to the Supreme Court. From the previous system, where judges were chosen based on merit and experience, anyone with a law degree can now be elected.
Among those running are former representatives from notorious cartels and convicted criminals, AP writes.
In the unique election, Mexicans will elect all judges in the country's entire judiciary. And the new election process has been marred by a quickly thrown together system, which has meant that judges are not allowed to campaign, among other things. Many have therefore taken to social media to get their message out, reports the New York Times.
One candidate has campaigned on Tinder. There, voters can "match with justice" and chat with him about issues. Another took to TikTok and compared himself to the Mexican cartoon icon "Dora the explorer", but called himself "Dora the transformer".
But the regulation of campaigning has been met with criticism. Some argue that candidates with political experience and better resources have a huge advantage in campaigns and that important issues are prioritized in order to make a splash on the internet instead.
Historic judicial election in Mexico – everyone should vote
Today, Mexicans are going to a unique election where they will elect every single judge in the country's entire judicial system. A total of 2,600 legal positions are to be filled and 7,700 candidates have run, AP reports.
Behind the historic election is a reform instituted by the ruling Morena party. The goal is to clean up the legal system, which is said to be riddled with corruption. But critics say the election risks damaging democracy and opens the way for cartels to gain a grip on legal power.
A major focus will be on those elected to the Supreme Court. From the previous system, where judges were chosen based on merit and experience, anyone with a law degree can now be elected.
Among those running are former representatives from notorious cartels and convicted criminals, AP writes.
Train accidents in Russia
Investigators: Explosions behind train crashes
Explosions are behind the two train crashes in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk, which border Ukraine. This is what Russian investigators say, according to Reuters.
Seven people died and nearly 70 were injured in the crash in Bryansk. A train heading to Moscow then crashed into a collapsed bridge that had just been blown up. According to the railway company, it was caused by “illegal interference in transport operations”. The alarm came at 10:50 p.m. local time.
The train crash in Kursk took place a few hours later, at midnight local time. A freight train then drove over a bridge that had just exploded. One person was injured in the crash.
The Kremlin says that Vladimir Putin was informed about the attacks by the FSB security service during the night. A spokesman for the Russian investigation called the explosions a “terrorist act”.
Explosions are behind the two train crashes in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk, which border Ukraine. This is what Russian investigators say, according to Reuters.
Seven people died and nearly 70 were injured in the crash in Bryansk. A train heading to Moscow then crashed into a collapsed bridge that had just been blown up. According to the railway company, it was caused by “illegal interference in transport operations”. The alarm came at 10:50 p.m. local time.
The train crash in Kursk took place a few hours later, at midnight local time. A freight train then drove over a bridge that had just exploded. One person was injured in the crash.
The Kremlin says that Vladimir Putin was informed about the attacks by the FSB security service during the night. A spokesman for the Russian investigation called the explosions a “terrorist act”.
Security service: Third train attacked in Ukraine
A third Russian train has been attacked in occupied areas of Ukraine. The Ukrainian security service HUR writes on Facebook.
The train passed Russian-occupied Melitopol in Ukraine on its way to Crimea when an explosion on the railway caused it to derail. The train was loaded with fuel tanks and freight cars. The railway is described as an important route for Russia. “The fight against the occupier continues,” writes HUR, taking responsibility for the attack.
Russia has accused Ukraine of also being behind the two other train crashes in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk, writes SVT.
Poland's midterm election between Trump friend and Mr. Bonjour
Published 11.26
Poland's midterm election on Sunday is crucial for the EU and stands between two polar opposites.
Trump-lover Karol Nawrocki, 42, who lifts a refrigerator in front of the TV cameras and says no to Ukrainian EU membership.
EU friend Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, who has three university degrees, speaks four languages and attends gay pride parades.
Quick version
The second round of the Polish presidential election, which began on Sunday morning, looks set to be a nail-biter.
The latest opinion poll on Friday points to a deadlock between the contenders: liberal Trzaskowski has 50.4 percent of the vote, while national conservative Nawrocki has 49.6 percent, according to Ewybory.
In other words, sun or rain can determine how many people go to the polls and thus who becomes president. For the liberal Polish government, the outcome is vital, since the Polish president has the right to veto.
Stopping reforms
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has not implemented his most important promises – the right to abortion from the twelfth week and the restoration of the independence of the judiciary – because the current national conservative president Andrzej Duda refuses to let the reforms go through.
If the right-wing Nawrocki takes over the presidency, the government's cancer will continue. If Trzaskowski wins, it can get its policies through, which in turn could strengthen the EU.
Both candidates are burdened with problems – but Nawrocki has the most scandals in his bag. The snuff scandal was not the biggest, but the only one with a Swedish connection.
During a live TV debate, Karol Nawrocki suddenly put something in his mouth, hidden by his other hand. There was immediate speculation that he was taking drugs.
It turned out to be snus, and Nawrocki finally explained that he used it to put up with his opponent's "lies".
Threatened with a lawsuit
In other cases, he has not admitted. As recently as Monday, the Onet newspaper revealed that Nawrocki arranged prostitutes for guests when he was a security guard at the Grand Hotel in the luxurious seaside resort of Sopot. Then the presidential candidate counterattacked and threatened with a lawsuit, even though the newspaper's sources claim that they are prepared to testify in court.
He has also denied having any connections with Nazis. Nawrocki also denied that he had swindled an apartment from a poor, elderly alcoholic man. He has claimed that he took over the apartment in a proper manner.
However, Nawrocki admits that in his youth he participated in hooligan fights at football matches. He has even claimed that this experience could help him in his presidential role.
Trzaskowski's problem lies on a completely different level:
- He is considered too smart, too far from the average Pole. In political circles he has been given the ironic nickname "Bonjour", says journalist Svjatoslav Chomenko to BBC Russians podcast Sjto eto bylo.
The reason: Trzaskowski has been an EU parliamentarian, Minister of Digitalization and, in addition to Polish, speaks fluent Italian, English and Spanish.
Met Trump
Opponent Karol Nawrocki, on the other hand, is criticized for having no political experience and knowing very few foreign politicians. Nawrocki was therefore very pleased when he had an audience with Donald Trump at the White House a few weeks ago, and the American president told him “you will win”.
“Trump loves strong men,” Nawrocki has said several times after the meeting.
He himself usually performs all sorts of strength tests in front of TV cameras. Nawrocki has publicly carried a refrigerator, done push-ups and fired a gun ahead of the presidential election.
Karol Nawrocki carries a refrigerator in front of the media cameras. Photo: Facebook
Prenumerera på:
Inlägg (Atom)