President Andrzej Duda: if the election result does not suit certain groups, it may be questioned

President Andrzej Duda was asked on Friday on Republika TV about speculations that the result of this year's presidential elections could be questioned. – Please remember that these are people who accepted not only the previous presidential elections, but above all, most of them happily accepted the results of the last parliamentary elections, which were approved by this chamber – he said about the government.

The president said the question was “whether someone is trying to undermine the result of the presidential elections in Poland, depending on what it will be.” – If he suits certain circles, they will not question him, but if he does not fit (…), then perhaps these choices will be questioned – he said.

The presidential elections will be held on May 18. If necessary, their second round will take place on June 1.

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The president was asked whether the government had informed him why the EU summit would not be held in Poland. – I have not received any such information. I can only smile, right? It is with regret, because I think it is a great loss for Poland that the summit will not take place in Poland, Duda replied.

As he said, each country that holds the presidency organizes a summit at home because it is also a form of presenting the country, emphasizing the dimension of the presidency in a given year, and the summit is attended by leaders, key leaders and members of the Council of the European Union.

– From this point of view, the decision, probably that of the Prime Minister, is astonishing. But such a game is being played by the Prime Minister and the European Commission, said the president.

The president also indicated in Friday's conversation that European Union it is a platform for cooperation between nation states in which each state should retain its sovereignty. He added that cooperation within the European Union should primarily focus on economic issues.

Duda noted that he also strongly emphasizes that Europe knows that good cooperation with the United States is of fundamental importance for its future and its prosperity. – This is a fact that has been historically confirmed for at least a hundred years, he said.

– Even in the most friendly conditions there is competition. There is and will also be competition between Europe and the United States. The point is to cooperate on fundamental issues and look for solutions that benefit both parties, said Andrzej Duda.

He added that there is no doubt that, globally, close cooperation with the United States and strengthening Euro-Atlantic ties brings benefits to both Europe and the United States. – However, it must be balanced and implemented on fair terms – he emphasized, referring to the announcement of the American president-elect regarding a tightening of trade policy towards the European Union.

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Duda pointed out that Trump treats politics like a business. – He looks in a pragmatic, realistic and very tough way. Without looking for political correctness, he talks about things that politicians, especially from large Western European countries, would like to hear, he noted.

Duda also assessed that Trump was right to criticize his allies during his first term NATOwho fail to meet their allied obligations related to defense spending.

– I myself heard at the NATO summits when President Trump, presenting detailed data, indicated the issue of defense spending in individual European and allied countries, and here he actually set very tough requirements, giving a very simple argument: why should the American taxpayer maintain security? in a country that is one of the richest European countries (…), which does not pay for its defense and it is done at the expense of the American taxpayer – said Duda, however, avoiding answering whether it was about Germany.