“Hungary is a very important ally for Poland,” Nawrocki said in the interview, his first with a foreign outlet since winning Sunday’s runoff election. He cited the two countries’ “shared fight against communist regimes” as a bond, and noted he has “many friends in Hungary.”
The conservative former head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance argued that tighter V4 coordination—joining Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia—was “crucial” for deterring Russia, which he called “the main enemy in the East.”
Support for Ukraine, but no rush on EU entry
Nawrocki pledged continued military and strategic aid for Ukraine but opposed what he termed “hasty” accession talks.
“Kyiv must first address issues with its neighbors, especially economic matters and historical questions such as the Volhynia massacre,” he said.
Campaign jabs and foreign reception
Reflecting on the campaign, Nawrocki accused Poland’s liberal opposition and the EU-level European People’s Party (EPP) of orchestrating attacks against him, but said he prevailed thanks to “ordinary Poles.” His victory was welcomed in Budapest; Prime Minister Viktor Orbán predicted the new president would be “an opponent of Poland’s pro-war government,” a reference to friction between Orbán and Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Tensions spiked last December when Hungary granted asylum to an opposition politician, Marcin Romanowski, wanted in Poland over alleged misuse of a justice fund.
Nawrocki, who takes office on August 6, reiterated that he hopes his first foreign trip will be to Washington and that he intends to press for stronger regional defense ties once sworn in.
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Source: PAP