The presidential election in Poland is decided in a runoff election. Incumbent Andrzej Duda missed the absolute majority in the first round, according to post-election surveys.
In the presidential election in Poland, the national conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda missed the absolute majority required for re-election, according to initial forecasts. He now has to face a runoff election against opposition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski in two weeks. Duda won 41.8 percent of the vote, Trzaskowski 30.4 percent.
Voter turnout was high despite the corona pandemic. By 5 p.m., almost 48 percent of those entitled to vote had cast their vote, the election commission announced in Warsaw on Sunday. In the 2015 presidential election, the total turnout was around 49 percent at the end of the day.
“We still have a chance to win.”
Duda thanked his voters in Lowicz for the support on Sunday evening. It is important that the country is run as the majority of the population wants it, said Duda with cheers from his followers. He congratulated his challenger Trzaskowski on his success.
Trzaskowski said to supporters in Warsaw that the result shows that a high percentage of Poles want to switch. “We still have a chance to win.” The second round of elections will decide whether Poland will get a president who will closely watch the government or someone who will not respect his own signature.
Incumbent Duda outraged with homophobia
Duda, who has been in office for five years, presented himself in the election campaign as a guarantee for the receipt of the social benefits introduced by the PiS government. The 48-year-old emphasized the traditional image of the family and rejected marriage for everyone. Duda had recently caused outrage abroad with homophobic statements. He said about gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people: “We are being tried to convince them that they are people. But it is just an ideology.”
His political rival Trzaskowski, who represents the largest opposition alliance, the liberal-conservative citizens’ coalition (KO), signed the so-called “LGBT +” charter, which is supposed to support sexual minorities, as the mayor of the capital. In the election campaign, however, he avoided placing this issue in the foreground so as not to deter conservative voters. In the event of an election victory, Trzaskowski wants to reverse the controversial judicial reform of the PiS, which has brought Poland into a permanent clinch with the EU.
President has far-reaching powers
The election was also seen as a kind of referendum on the politics of the PiS, which has been the president since 2015 and has an absolute majority in parliament. A second term in Duda would underpin the party’s monopoly on power until the next parliamentary election in 2023.
The office of Polish President is not purely representative, the President has extensive powers and can not only veto laws, but also initiate his own legislative initiatives.
Election postponed due to corona crisis
The election was originally scheduled for May 10th. As public life was practically crippled due to the corona pandemic, the date was postponed after a violent political dispute. Special protection regulations applied in the polling stations on Sunday. In the center of Warsaw, people with face masks stood in line in front of the polling stations because only a limited number of people were allowed in the rooms. Disinfectants were ready at the entrance, the election workers wore gloves and transparent face shields. Voters were required to make their crosses with their own pen.
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