The two remaining candidates for president of Poland - Rafal Trzaskowski, supported by the ruling liberal coalition, and the nationalist Karol Nawrocki from the conservative opposition - got into a verbal clash over Ukraine during their final televised debates before the runoff on June 1, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
The second round of the presidential election is expected to be very contested. The elections are taking place at a delicate moment for Europe, amid the protracted war in Ukraine and strained relations with the United States, AFP notes.
In the first round, held on May 18, Trzaskowski, who is mayor of the capital Warsaw, received 31.3%, and Nawrocki, the director of the Institute of National Remembrance, 29.5%.
During the debates, the candidate of the ruling coalition called on Poles to "elect a president with experience".
Poland needs a person "who will be a strong president in difficult times", replied the opposition figure, who is an amateur boxer.
Regarding the war in neighboring Ukraine, Trzaskowski accused his opponent of "using language that is in tune with... Russian propaganda".
When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "treats us badly, we have the right to say so. And millions of Poles would like to" say so, Nawrocki replied.
To win, the candidates must attract supporters of their rivals who dropped out after the first round, including the far-right Slawomir Menzen, who came third with 14.8%, notes Agence France-Presse.
Tszaskowski, a former Polish deputy foreign minister, criticized Nawrocki for having no experience in international politics. The conservative, for his part, highlighted his good relations with US President Donald Trump.
The elections could prove decisive for the future of the pro-European coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who came to power in 2023. A possible victory for Trzaskowski would put an end to the difficult coexistence between the liberal government and the current conservative president, Andrzej Duda, while a potential success for Nawrocki could further complicate relations between the executive branch and the head of state, AFP summarizes.