Poland’s new president aims for more ties with Poles abroad

Mr. Duda took the oath of office before the National Assembly in Warsaw at the start of a five-year term in power.

The victory of the 43-year-old Mr Duda, a low-profile trained lawyer and MEP from Krakow, marks a shift to the right in central Europe’s largest state.

His swearing-in comes as opinion polls show Prime Minister Eva Kopacz and her liberal-conservative Civic Platform (PO) party falling behind the PiS.

As prime minister from 2005 to 2007, Mr Kaczynski and his twin brother, the late president Lech Kaczynski, pushed a radical campaign against corruption at home – and fell out with key European partners.

“I believe in good cooperation with the government”, Duda told the two chambers of parliament in his inaugural speech.

Duda’s election means that the new parliament will likely be dominated by the PiS in the future.

Stressing security, Duda on Thursday called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence alliance to do more for the region.

PiS also takes a more skeptical approach towards the European Union and joining the euro than PO.

Poland’s presidency comes with far-reaching powers to veto and initiate legislation.

While the Polish president is expected to remain politically neutral, Duda has promised to reject all proposed laws that seek to fundamentally change the country.

Controversial issues such as a bill on artificial insemination and growing pressure from the European Union on climate reform have proven hard to swallow for many Polish voters in recent months. “Poland has few politicians as strong and determined as him”.

“We should unambiguously raise the question – we need guarantees from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.

“We need a greater presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in this part of Europe and in our country”, Duda said.

Duda also said that Poland’s participation is needed in a “wide peace conference” for Ukraine if a lasting peace is to be achieved.

In his first speech as president, Duda said Poland and its neighbouring countries required ‘greater guarantees from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.’. His opponent in the Polish presidential elections was former President Bronislaw Komorovski.