The Guardian view on Karol Nawrocki’s win: Poland first, perhaps – but Europe comes last | Editorial

A nationalist outsider takes Poland’s presidency, leaving liberal hopes in retreat and Donald Tusk’s fragile coalition on the ropesEurope’s latest presidential election appears to have delivered not a statesman but a slogan – “Poland first” – and with it, a rebuke to the centrist prime minister, Donald Tusk. Poland’s new head of state will be Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian endorsed by Donald Trump. Mr Nawrocki’s improbable rise – from relative obscurity to the presidency – signals the unfortunate entrenchment of nationalist grievance in Polish politics.He now stands poised to paralyse Mr Tusk’s agenda and perhaps derail Polish access to European funds – using his presidential power of veto to block government legislation or simply relying on the influence of the conservative constitutional court. Key reforms – judicial overhaul, civil partnerships and abortion rights – are off the table. For a country that once dreamed of anchoring the EU’s eastern flank, it is a backward lurch.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...