Poland Has a New President: What Does It Mean for the Transatlantic Relationship?

Sally McNamara / July 06, 2010

This past weekend, Civic Platform’s (PO) Bronislaw Komorowski narrowly beat Law and Justice’s Jaroslaw Kaczynski in the second round of voting for the Polish Presidency. After a race that was closer than most pundits were predicting, Komorowski will formally take control of the presidential office in August, consolidating the leadership of PO Prime Minister, Donald Tusk.

The early election was called following the tragic death of President Lech Kaczynski in April. His twin brother Jaroslaw and leader of the Center-Right Law and Justice Party performed far better than expected. Komorowski’s victory means that the Tusk government will now be forced to make good on its promise of economic reform and spending cuts, which PO had accused President Kaczynski of holding up. These reforms, however, are likely to be unpopular especially in the run-up to next year’s scheduled Parliamentary elections.

Foreign policy will be deeply impacted by the new one-party government. Next July, Poland will hold the Presidency of the EU, and both Prime Minister Tusk and President Komorowski are deeply committed to further European integration. PO supports the EU’s burgeoning defense identity and is planning to take Poland into the failing single European currency as soon as possible. (more…)