Poland’s new president seeks Nato assurances over Russia

Poland's new centre-right president has demanded greater guarantees from Nato that former eastern bloc countries in central Europe are safe from Russia.

At his swearing in yesterday Andrzej Duda, the sixth head of modern Poland, promised a "correction . . . but not revolution" in Warsaw's EU and foreign affairs.

“This correction,” he said, “lies in talking about our goals, our aspirations and presenting our point of view in a calm but firm and unambiguous manner . . . to our international partners.”

Mr Duda (43), a low-profile lawyer and MEP from Krakow, ousted his liberal rival, Bronislaw Komorowski, in an election in May.

The victory marked a shift to the right in central Europe’s largest state. It is perceived as boost to the October election hopes of Mr Duda’s national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Recent opinion polls give PiS and its leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a lead of up to 10 points on the governing liberal Civic Platform (PO), thus making a change of government likely.

Anti-corruption

As prime minister from 2005 to 2007, Mr Kaczynski and his twin brother, the late president Lech Kaczynski, pushed a radical campaign against corruption at home – and fell out with key European partners.

Though still PiS leader, Mr Kaczynski (66) was less visible in Mr Duda’s campaign, a strategy he will repeat for the general election.

That has left Poles divided over whether the more moderate political and rhetorical style of Mr Duda, a member of Poland’s post-Solidarity generation, represents a shift from the more combative approach of Mr Kaczynski, or if it is just a clever piece of political marketing.

Much will depend on how politically dependent or independent Mr Duda will be on Mr Kaczynski during his five years as head of state.

Mr Duda stressed the importance of continuity in his inaugural address, saying Poland’s accession to the EU and Nato had “symbolically, but also geopolitically” moved the country from East to West.

“But European cohesion must be constructed in such a way that Polish affairs are also taken into account,” he added.

Veto powers

Though largely representative, Poland’s presidency comes with far-reaching powers to veto and initiate legislation.

Mr Duda has promised to come good on election promises to take lower earners out of the tax net and to reduce the retirement age. Both projects were opposed by the PO-lead coalition.

Prime minister Ewa Kopacz has promised to do her best to work with the new president from the rival political camp.

Mrs Kopacz reminded Mr Duda that he was head of "our common state and all its citizens, those who voted for him and those who supported his rivals".

But as Poland enters election mode, and Mr Duda embarks on a long national tour to bang the campaign drum for PiS, few believe there is much ground for consensus.