Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Polarised Poland: On politics, the Presidential election results

​Polarised Poland: On politics, the Presidential election results

Pro-Europe liberals and populist conservatives are at war

When Donald Tusk’s diverse (विविध, विभिन्न) coalition (गठबंधन) came to power in Poland in 2023, ending the eight-year rule of the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), the veteran centrist promised “to chase away the darkness”. Two years on, with the Tusk government still struggling to deliver on key reforms, Polish voters have elected a conservative backed by PiS as the country’s next President. Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and former boxer with little political experience, won the June 1 presidential run-off with 50.89% votes, narrowly (Of small width in relation to length; limited in extent, amount, or scope) defeating the liberal (उदारवादी) Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, who secured 49.11%. Mr. Nawrocki, endorsed (समर्थन करना) by Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, presented himself as an outsider populist (लोकलुभावन), and promised a ‘Poland first’ approach that echoed Trumpian rhetoric. During its rule (2015–23), the PiS had implemented sweeping (To clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter; to move swiftly and smoothly) reforms that were aimed at tightening its control over state institutions and media, and recasting the Polish society along its ideological lines. It curbed abortion rights, overhauled (मरम्मत करना, पुनर्निर्माण करना) education and filled the judiciary with party loyalists, often clashing (टकराव, संघर्ष) with the European Union. Mr. Tusk attempted to roll back some of these measures, but met with strong opposition from the outgoing President, Andrzej Duda, also a PiS ally. As legislative logjam derailed Mr. Tusk’s reform agenda, Mr. Nawrocki capitalised on public resentment (नाराजगी, रोष), attacking the Polish establishment and Brussels.

While Poland’s presidency is largely ceremonial, Mr. Nawrocki’s victory could significantly impact its politics. First, the President can veto laws passed by Parliament or send them to the constitutional court, now packed with judges appointed by the PiS government. In a post-election rally, Mr. Nawrocki said the Tusk government was trying to achieve a “monopoly” of power and vowed to prevent it, in a sign of what is to come. As the government does not have the three-fifths majority in Parliament to override (रद्द करना, निरस्त करना) presidential vetoes, Mr. Tusk could face further gridlock. Second, Mr. Nawrocki’s victory is a morale boost for Poland’s Eurosceptic right and may strengthen the alliance between the populist movements across the Atlantic. Despite his campaign rhetoric to oppose Ukraine joining NATO, he is unlikely to change Poland’s foreign policy core — be it its political and security alliance with the West or its opposition to Russia. But on social and economic policies, he is likely to follow the PiS’s right-wing conservatism. Third, the election result could exacerbate internal tensions within Mr. Tusk’s ideologically broad coalition which threaten to reduce Mr. Tusk to being a lame duck Prime Minister. All this points to a turbulent (अशांत) phase for Poland, where a politically polarised and socially divided nation braces for a prolonged tug of war between the pro-European centrists and ascendant populist conservatives.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Liberal (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उदारवादी
English Meaning - Open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values; (in politics) favoring individual liberty, free trade, and moderate political and social reform.

2.Populist (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - लोकलुभावन
English Meaning - Relating to or representative of the views of ordinary people.

3.Diverse (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विविध, विभिन्न
English Meaning - Showing a great deal of variety; very different.

4.Coalition (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - गठबंधन
English Meaning - An alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a temporary government or of states.

5.Endorse (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - समर्थन करना
English Meaning - To declare one's public approval or support of; sign (a cheque or bill of exchange) on the back to make it payable to someone other than the stated payee.

6.Overhaul (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - मरम्मत करना, पुनर्निर्माण करना
English Meaning - To take apart (a piece of machinery or equipment) in order to examine it and repair it if necessary; a thorough examination and repair.

7.Clash (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - टकराव, संघर्ष
English Meaning - A violent confrontation or argument; a strong disagreement.

8.Resentment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - नाराजगी, रोष
English Meaning - Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.

9.Override (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - रद्द करना, निरस्त करना
English Meaning - To interrupt the action of (an automatic device); to use one's authority to reject or cancel (a decision, view, etc.).

10.Turbulent (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अशांत
English Meaning - Characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not controlled or calm.

11.Narrow (Adjective)

English Meaning - Of small width in relation to length; limited in extent, amount, or scope.

12.Sweep (Verb)

English Meaning - To clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter; to move swiftly and smoothly.