Poland Holds Presidential Election Amid High Stakes, Controversy

Poland's presidential election began with more than 29 million voters choosing among 13 candidates, primarily between Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the centrist Civic Coalition and Karol Nawrocki of the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice party. No candidate is expected to secure an outright majority, making a runoff election likely on June 1. The election carries significant political weight, as the presidency has the power to veto legislation and influence Poland's alignment with the European Union, a key issue under Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government. The campaign has been marked by controversies, including allegations of online smear campaigns and accusations of foreign interference, though Facebook's parent company Meta denied that targeted ads originated outside Poland. Trzaskowski represents a pro-European, liberal agenda aligned with Tusk, while Nawrocki, an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizes nationalist and conservative policies. This election is seen as a crucial test for Poland's future direction amid ongoing tensions in domestic politics and broader geopolitical concerns.