On May 19, the GSSC hosted a discussion dedicated to the Polish presidential elections. The event featured Laurynas Vaičiūnas, Director of the Jan Nowak-Jezioranski College, Dr. Mariusz Antonowicz, lecturer at Vilnius University’s Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI) and researcher at Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), with the discussion moderated by GSSC political analyst Adam Roževič.
Key Insights from the Discussion:
- Experts emphasized that this year’s elections revealed strong opposition to the current ruling party’s policies and highlighted deep political polarization, especially among right-wing forces, which traditionally command about half of the electorate’s support.
- It was noted that a portion of votes went to the far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, whose electorate consists mainly of young men.
- The discussion also analyzed the diversity and competition among left-wing candidates, as well as the declining influence of the Polish Catholic Church in political life.
- Foreign policy received significant attention, with experts discussing the role of the United States in the elections and its potential impact on Poland’s domestic politics.
Experts addressed that the results of the presidential elections could significantly influence not only Poland’s political direction but also that of Europe as a whole, especially in light of the tense relationship between Warsaw and Brussels.
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