Poland's president-elect Nawrocki vows firm stance against PM Tusk

Poland's conservative president-elect Karol Nawrocki has said Prime Minister Donald Tusk must prepare for "strong resistance from the presidential palace," as a battle looms between the two leaders.

Speaking on Thursday in his first television interview since Sunday's election, Nawrocki called Tusk "the worst prime minister Poland has had since 1989" and vowed to respond firmly and decisively to any provocation.

Tusk's centre-left coalition, which took office in late 2023, has come under pressure since liberal candidate and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski was defeated in a knife-edge presidential vote by conservative Nawrocki.

Nawrocki's victory is likely to complicate Tusk's efforts to push through his pro-EU government's policies, as eurosceptic Nawrocki will have the power to veto legislation as president.

Tusk plans a vote of confidence in parliament on June 11 to secure his alliance's support.

Backed by nationalist conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński, Nawrocki, a historian, had already declared during the election campaign that his goal was to bring down Tusk's government.

However, Nawrocki said he is willing to cooperate on key issues important to Poland's welfare.