Presidential Candidates Rally for Key Polish Votes

The news in Polish

1. odbywać się
   Mieć miejsce, zostać przeprowadzonym. ↩︎
2. kandydat  (m.)
   Osoba, która ubiega się o jakieś stanowisko lub tytuł. ↩︎
3. region  (m.)
   Obszar geograficzny lub administracyjny. ↩︎
4. większość  (f.)
   Liczebna przewaga czegoś nad czymś innym, często ponad 50%. ↩︎
5. międzynarodowy
   Dotyczący więcej niż jednego kraju. ↩︎
6. lider  (m.)
   Osoba, która przewodzi grupie lub ruchowi. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who are the two candidates in the Polish presidential elections?

Question 2: Which candidate has international leader support?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
odbywać się	to take place
kandydat  (m.)	candidate
region  (m.)	region
większość  (f.)	majority
międzynarodowy	international
lider  (m.)	leader

Read the full story

As the Polish presidential election enters its final stages, candidates Karol Nawrocki and Rafał Trzaskowski are scrambling to secure crucial votes in the second round of the election scheduled for 1 June. This high-stakes race follows an inconclusive first round, where neither candidate achieved the necessary majority, garnering 29.54% and 31.36% of the vote respectively.

The eastern regions of Poland, traditionally strongholds for the right, have become a focal point for the Nawrocki campaign. With significant votes from right-leaning candidates Sławomir Mentzen and Grzegorz Braun contributing to a combined local right-wing share of over 73% in areas like Łapy, the mobilisation of this voter base is seen as critical. Nawrocki’s campaign efforts in these areas are strategic, aiming to galvanise both those disillusioned with the ruling party and new young voters who have previously abstained from voting.

Meanwhile, the Trzaskowski camp is harnessing a coalition of support from other opposition leaders. Figures such as Szymon Hołownia of the Trzecia Droga coalition and Magdalena Biejat of Nowa Lewica have declared their endorsements for Trzaskowski, urging their supporters to rally behind him. This coalition reflects a broad-based strategy aiming to unify various segments of the opposition to bolster Trzaskowski’s chances against a consolidated right.

The endorsement landscape is further complicated by independent candidates who remain noncommittal. Notably, Sławomir Mentzen has opted to leave the choice to his voters, despite acknowledging some alignment with Nawrocki’s policies. This abstention creates an unpredictable element, leaving the Mentzen voter bloc as a potential wildcard in the electoral equation.

Nawrocki has also received backing from international figures sympathetic to his platform, including support from U.S. former President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, each touting his conservative credentials and pledging support for his “patriotic” vision for Poland.

The outcome of this election rests heavily on turnout and the narrative each candidate can successfully craft in these final campaigning moments. With only hours until the pre-election silence, campaigns are laser-focused on their final messages, in a race that is proving to be more than just a local affair but a reflection of broader political currents across Europe.

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