Nawrocki’s record dims prospects for improved Polish-Ukrainian relations, historian says

Ukrainian MP and historian Volodymyr Viatrovych shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"Unfortunately, historical issues between Warsaw and Kyiv will only increase in modern politics. The newly elected president, Mr. Nawrocki, is not just a former head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance. He is one of the initiators of the ongoing politicization of history. In fact, he changed the character of this institution," Viatrovych noted.

According to the historian, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance has had many leaders, but Nawrocki is remembered as the one who broke its political independence, turning the institute into an instrument of one political force — in this case, the Law and Justice party.

"It should be understood that historical disputes in Polish-Ukrainian relations will increase in the near future. To clarify who we are talking about: if you recall the so-called ‘anti-Banderist’ laws passed in 2016–2018, or statements about Halychyna being a ‘small Poland’ — all of this is connected to Karol Nawrocki," Viatrovych reminded.

"Nawrocki’s ‘anamnesis,’ if I may put it that way, includes not only the politicization of the Institute of National Remembrance. Another important example is the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk. Its creation took a long time, but after the political situation in Poland changed, Nawrocki was appointed there. He quickly carried out a personnel purge, claiming that the museum was not patriotic enough in his opinion, and essentially turned it into a tool of party propaganda.

Such a background of Mr. Nawrocki — and I won’t even mention some turbulent episodes from his youth in the 1990s — gives no grounds for optimism about improving Polish-Ukrainian relations," Viatrovych emphasized.

• After 100% of the votes were counted, Karol Nawrocki was declared the winner of the second round of the Polish presidential election. The gap between him and his opponent Rafał Trzaskowski was less than 2%. The incumbent Polish leader Andrzej Duda congratulated his successor.