Poland’s President Andrzej Duda sworn in

Duda, who comes from a conservative opposition party, has to work with a liberal government.

Duda, 43, promises to pay attention to the needs of the underprivileged. Duda’s wife, Agata, was standing by his side.

“We need more guarantees from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, not only we as Poland but the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, in the current hard geopolitical situation”, Duda said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim to a right to influence in formerly allied communist countries.

He vowed to press for more security guarantees at next year’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Warsaw. The Kremlin also sent troops into Georgia in 2008 and retains control of two strategic regions in that now-independent former Soviet republic.

Duda’s electoral victory in May over Komorowski was a surprise, and a warning to the ruling coalition that it may lose power in October general elections. “We need a greater North Atlantic Treaty Organisation presence in this part of Europe, including in our country”.

By the same token, however, the president’s role in Poland is considered largely ceremonial alongside a more powerful prime minister.

Duda had earlier said he opposes Poland’s entry into the eurozone “so long as the standard of living of Poles remains below that of Germans or the Dutch”.

He said he hoped that “that would be guaranteed explicitly” at the next North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Warsaw next year.At home Duda pledged to introduce the social benefits he promised in fiery campaign speeches, including new tax exemptions and a lower retirement age, which the PO government had gradually pushed back to 67 years.

Duda quit Law and Justice after winning the May elections, in a sign that he would be the president of all Poles.

“Mrs Kopacz reminded the new president that he was head of our common state and all its citizens, those who voted for him and those who supported his rivals”.

The new head of state also promised to create a new office to co-ordinate relations with the Polish community overseas.