Rob Schmitz

Yeah. So in autumn of 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist civic coalition had a surprise victory over the Law and Justice Party. But since then, Tusk's coalition has had a very difficult time undoing some of the damage that law and justice had done, especially on the country's judiciary. And that's because each time they've tried to pass new laws that aim to restore the courts,

Yeah. So in autumn of 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist civic coalition had a surprise victory over the Law and Justice Party. But since then, Tusk's coalition has had a very difficult time undoing some of the damage that law and justice had done, especially on the country's judiciary. And that's because each time they've tried to pass new laws that aim to restore the courts,

Yeah. So in autumn of 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist civic coalition had a surprise victory over the Law and Justice Party. But since then, Tusk's coalition has had a very difficult time undoing some of the damage that law and justice had done, especially on the country's judiciary. And that's because each time they've tried to pass new laws that aim to restore the courts,

Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, an ally of law and justice, has vetoed them, effectively becoming a barrier to Tusk's agenda. But now Duda is termed out as president, and the Civic Coalition has a chance here to win the presidency because their candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, The mayor of Warsaw has a commanding lead in the polls.

Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, an ally of law and justice, has vetoed them, effectively becoming a barrier to Tusk's agenda. But now Duda is termed out as president, and the Civic Coalition has a chance here to win the presidency because their candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, The mayor of Warsaw has a commanding lead in the polls.

Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, an ally of law and justice, has vetoed them, effectively becoming a barrier to Tusk's agenda. But now Duda is termed out as president, and the Civic Coalition has a chance here to win the presidency because their candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, The mayor of Warsaw has a commanding lead in the polls.

Law and Justice's candidate, Karol Nawrocki, is trailing by around 5%. But because there are several other candidates in this election, we likely won't see any single candidate get a majority tomorrow. So it'll likely head to a runoff between two of the leading candidates in early June.

Law and Justice's candidate, Karol Nawrocki, is trailing by around 5%. But because there are several other candidates in this election, we likely won't see any single candidate get a majority tomorrow. So it'll likely head to a runoff between two of the leading candidates in early June.

Law and Justice's candidate, Karol Nawrocki, is trailing by around 5%. But because there are several other candidates in this election, we likely won't see any single candidate get a majority tomorrow. So it'll likely head to a runoff between two of the leading candidates in early June.

Well, one reason is that we're seeing another resurgence, Scott, in this part of Europe of the far right. And even in Poland, the Law and Justice Party is gaining ground again, which makes analysts think that they could win the next parliamentary election in 2027. And that if there isn't a president to check their power, these observers say Poland's democracy could be in trouble.

Well, one reason is that we're seeing another resurgence, Scott, in this part of Europe of the far right. And even in Poland, the Law and Justice Party is gaining ground again, which makes analysts think that they could win the next parliamentary election in 2027. And that if there isn't a president to check their power, these observers say Poland's democracy could be in trouble.

Well, one reason is that we're seeing another resurgence, Scott, in this part of Europe of the far right. And even in Poland, the Law and Justice Party is gaining ground again, which makes analysts think that they could win the next parliamentary election in 2027. And that if there isn't a president to check their power, these observers say Poland's democracy could be in trouble.

Here's political analyst Andrzej Bubinski.

Here's political analyst Andrzej Bubinski.

Here's political analyst Andrzej Bubinski.

Well, since we're talking about the resurgence of the far right in Europe, Romania is a good example of that. Last November, a relative unknown far right pro-Kremlin candidate, Talin Gorgescu, surprisingly won.

Well, since we're talking about the resurgence of the far right in Europe, Romania is a good example of that. Last November, a relative unknown far right pro-Kremlin candidate, Talin Gorgescu, surprisingly won.

Well, since we're talking about the resurgence of the far right in Europe, Romania is a good example of that. Last November, a relative unknown far right pro-Kremlin candidate, Talin Gorgescu, surprisingly won.

But a judge later annulled the election after state intelligence revealed that Russia had been involved in setting up almost 800 TikTok accounts supporting him, having undue influence over the electorate. Russia has denied these accusations. So now Romanian voters will decide between two candidates, a hard-right nationalist who's a fan of President Trump and Vladimir Putin.

But a judge later annulled the election after state intelligence revealed that Russia had been involved in setting up almost 800 TikTok accounts supporting him, having undue influence over the electorate. Russia has denied these accusations. So now Romanian voters will decide between two candidates, a hard-right nationalist who's a fan of President Trump and Vladimir Putin.