- Karol Nawrocki’s presidency signals a crypto -friendly policy.
- His choice could make reforms of the EU difficult and promote blockchain innovations as part of a conservative agenda.
Karol Nawrocki IST after a runoff election with a close output was elected President of Poland. The national election commission confirmed on Monday that Nawrocki received 50.89 percent of the vote and thus narrowly prevailed against the liberal opposite candidate and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent of the vote.
Nawrocki, 42, ran for the nationalist PIS party and publicly supported the crypto sector. In Statements Before the election on June 1st, he said that he would oppose regulatory measures that restrict investments in digital assets, thus signaling an openness to blockchain innovations.
His statements were interpreted as an appeal to the supporters of the right-wing extremist candidate Slawomir Mentzen, who represented Pro-Bitcoin views and received 14.8 percent of the vote in the first round. This attitude distinguishes Nawrocki from Trzaskowski, who had previously criticized the deregulated cryptoma markets.
Political shift raises concerns for reform agenda
Nawrocki’s presidency brings uncertainty for the centrist coalition government under Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He agreed to use the president’s veto right to block reforms that aim to undo the changes introduced by the PIS party between 2015 and 2023. These judicial reforms had previously brought Poland into conflict with the EU for concerns regarding the rule of law.
Nawrocki’s predecessor Andrzej Duda, who also stood close to the PIS, often made his veto against laws that were supposed to expand civil rights and restore the independence of the institutions. Nawrocki is likely to continue this political style and efforts by the government for changes in the law in connection with abortions and LGBTQ rights. Analysts suspect that this could question Tusk’s ability to fulfill its election promises.
Crypto industry sees opportunities
Nawrocki’s crypto-affinity could open up new opportunities for the Polish crypto industry. While specific political proposals have not yet been introduced, his resistance to restrictive crypto regulation indicates a milder environment for blockchain entrepreneurs and investors.
During the election campaign, Nawrocki received support from personalities associated with the US movement “Make America Great Again”. Former President Donald Trump received him in the White House, while the US Minister of Homeland attended Kristi Noem Poland to strengthen relationships. Their support in connection with Nawrocki’s messages on economic sovereignty was received by nationalist voters in Poland and neighboring countries.
Despite the promise to continue to support the defense of Ukraine, Nawrocki was criticized for Ukrainian refugees because of his statements. He argued that the resources should primarily be used for Polish citizens and accused the Ukrainian leadership of relying too much on foreign help. This position could influence both foreign policy and refugee aid programs in the future.
For European conservatives, Nawrocki’s success against Igielski is a positive result after a number of election defeats. After George Simion’s death in May, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said that Nawrocki’s result was a “new success for patriots”. Legal European parties will be observed closely on how Nawrocki designs cryptopolitics and the government.
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