Jacobin Radio: How the Right Won in Poland w/ David Ost

Jacobin Radio

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Socialism, History, News, Left, Jacobin, Alternative, Socialist, Politics

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

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Summary

David Ost, professor of politics and Hobart and William Smith, joins Suzi to unpack Poland’s June 1 presidential election. The race was tight, but in the end, Karol Nawrocki, the far-right, hardline nationalist with MAGA-style politics and Trump’s backing, narrowly defeated Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.

After voters rejected Trumpist candidates in recent elections in Canada, Australia and Romania, Polish voters went the other way, swinging back to the hard right just two years after electing liberal leader Donald Tusk. What does this election reveal about the continuing attraction of the authoritarian and nationalist right to working class voters?

Ost argues that Tusk in power promised a program of radical changes, but delivered too little, dampening enthusiasm and turnout, echoing the troubles of Biden and Harris in the US. There was also the liberal-left campaign which focused on Nawrocki’s negative personal qualities, including criticism of his tough working class background, rather than his reactionary, xenophobic, chauvinist agenda — missteps that fed class resentment and fueled the far right.

Populism has shown to have staying power, and center-left governance has failed to offer a durable counter. Is Poland a warning to liberal democrats everywhere? What are the implications for Ukraine, Europe and the globe?

Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Jacobin Radio. I'm Susie Wiseman.
0:11.1	Today we're going to talk to David Oest. He's an expert on Poland.
0:14.8	And we're going to be talking about the stunning results of Poland's June 1st presidential election.
0:20.2	The race was tight. But in the end, the far-right
0:23.2	candidate, Karel Novrovsky, narrowly defeated Warsaw's liberal mayor, Rafael Chavskowski,
0:30.1	50.89 percent to 49.1 percent. This wasn't just a Polish story, sent a signal across Europe and the world.
0:40.2	After recent electoral defeats for Trumpist candidates in Canada, Australia, and Romania,
0:46.4	it seemed that maybe there was an international anti-Trump bump underway.
0:52.7	But Polish voters, just two years after electing Donald Tusk,
0:56.9	have once again swung right. Davrotsky, a far-right historian and former boxer, defeated
1:03.7	Shostovsky, who was backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Populism is shown to have
1:09.8	staying power, and center central left liberal governance has failed
1:12.9	to offer a durable counter. But is that the whole story? David Ost argues that Tusk in power
1:19.1	promised a program of radical changes, but delivered too little, dampening enthusiasm and turnout,
1:25.9	not unlike what happened to Biden and Harris. He also argues that
1:29.5	the liberal left campaigned on Avrovsky's negative personal qualities, including his tough
1:35.0	working class background, but not on the reactionary xenophobic, racist, and sexist policies he promotes.
1:42.1	We'll unpack the meaning of this election, explore its implications
1:45.2	for Poland, Europe, and for the global authoritarian populist right. All that coming up when our
1:51.6	program returns in just a moment. This is Jacobin Radio. I'm Susie Wiseman.
2:03.9	Political theorist David Oest is joining us today with his observations and analysis.
2:09.4	Analysis of Poland's recent, stunning presidential election.
	...

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