Expert: Chișinău will keep Poland’s support despite conservative Karol Nawrocki’s win
Relations between Poland and the Republic of Moldova will remain unchanged, despite the recent election of Eurosceptic conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki as president, who is supported by the Law and Justice Party, to which former President Andrzej Duda belongs. According to Mihai Isac, expert on the Black Sea region, Poland is a crucial ally for Chișinău in its European integration efforts and provides significant support against hybrid threats from the East.
Poland is a strong ally of the Republic of Moldova, and this partnership sends a positive signal for upcoming elections in the European Union. There are growing concerns about electoral vulnerabilities in the eastern flank, particularly given recent developments in Moldova and Romania. It is likely that early parliamentary elections will occur in Bulgaria in the coming months.
Karol Nawrocki, the former director of the Institute of National Remembrance, aged 42, has committed to implementing economic policies that prioritize Polish citizens. He also expressed a cautious stance on NATO's expansion to the east, stating that he would not support Ukraine's accession to the alliance due to the potential risk of Poland being directly drawn into a conflict with Russia. Mihai Isac highlights that Poland remains a pillar of regional security, significantly investing in the modernization of its armed forces. As one of the key countries on the eastern flank, Poland shares borders with the Russian Federation through the Kaliningrad enclave and with Belarus.
When considering Poland's role, it is evident that the country is crucial for the eastern flank of the European Union and NATO, acting as a regional military power. Poland has devoted substantial resources to modernizing its military. Daily reports from Poland reveal that migrants are being forcibly sent across the border by authorities in Minsk. This situation represents a real migration crisis orchestrated by the Lukashenko regime, which operates as an extension of the Kremlin's influence against Poland and the rule of law in the region.
On Sunday, June 1, Poland elected a new president. Karol Nawrocki, the conservative Eurosceptic candidate supported by the Law and Justice Party (PiS), secured 50.89% of the vote in the second round of the presidential election, defeating his liberal opponent, Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11% and was backed by the pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk. European leaders congratulated Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki.
In Poland, the president serves a five-year term and holds significant responsibilities in foreign policy, appointing the prime minister and cabinet members. The president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces in times of war.
