Polish President Duda wins re-election in tight race

Andrzej Duda, Poland's conservative, populist incumbent, has won the presidential election by a thin margin, results from over 99 percent of polling stations show.

Who is Andrzej Duda?

Born in 1972, Duda was elected to the Polish parliament in 2011 and the European Parliament in 2014. One year later, he went on to win the presidential election after promising voters social benefits galore.

The remaining uncounted votes are unlikely to sway the final outcome, the National Electoral Commission said on Monday, a result that reflects the deep divisions within the European Union (EU) nation.

Duda, who is backed by the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), won 51.21 percent of the vote, while opposition candidate, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, got 48.79 percent.

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Voter turnout was a record high at 68.12 percent, the election commission said.

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A second five-year term for the 48-year-old lawyer would improve the governing right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party's chances of moving ahead with its agenda. His victory would have profound implications for Poland's relationship with the EU.

Trzaskowski, a former European Parliament lawmaker who joined the race relatively late, opposes Duda's denigration of urban liberals, the LGBTQ community and other minorities, aims to counter the erosion of democratic rights under the ruling party. He represented the centrist opposition Civic Platform party that was in power from 2007 to 2015.

Supporters of Rafal Trzaskowski react after the announcement of the first exit poll results on the second round of the presidential election in Warsaw, Poland, July 12, 2020. /Reuters

Judicial changes

Duda favors tightening Poland's anti-abortion law - already among Europe's most restrictive - and recently likened "LGBT ideology" to communism, drawing criticism at home and abroad.

On Duda's watch the retirement age for men was lowered from 67 to 65. The PiS also began giving parents a monthly allowance of 500 zloty (130 U.S. dollars) for each child.

In terms of foreign policy, Duda has worked on strengthening ties with NATO.

Just four days before the first round of the election last month, Duda visited U.S. President Donald Trump, the first foreign leader invited to the White House since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Trump praised Duda as his Polish "friend".

(With input from agencies)