Vom politischen Unbekannten zum polnischen Präsidenten in 5 Monaten: Andrzej Duda

Vor der Wahl: Warschau, Altstadt Marktplatz

 Das zweite Mal zu Gast auf dem Sofa: Vanessa Pudlo

Er hat es tatsächlich geschafft: der national-konservative Andrzej Duda ist neuer polnischer Präsident - wahrlich eine kleine Sensation für Jemanden, der noch im Januar ein völlig Unbekannter auf dem polnischen politischen Parkett war. Dudas Erfolgsrezept? Er hat sich unters Volk gemischt und sich tatsächlich auf das Neuland namens Internet gewagt!

Sonntag, 20:30: Während ganz Polen gespannt auf die ersten Hochrechnungen wartet, melden die polnischen Medien, dass die sogenannte Wahlruhe wegen eines Todesfalls in einem Wahllokal um 90 Minuten verlängert werde, die Ergebnisse seien erst um 22:30 zu erwarten. Die Chefs der Wahlbüros von Duda und Komorowski wissen aber bereits zu diesem Zeitpunkt, dass es schlecht für ihn aussieht: Bronislaw Komorowski. Entsprechend locker ist die Stimmung unter den Duda Anhängern, sie feiern ihren neuen Star am PiS-Himmel.

Andrzej Duda - new president of Poland

Warsaw, Castle Square-10 April commemoration of Polish Air Force crash

Should we be surprised about the new Polish president Andrzej Duda? Well, I'm not. In Warsaw's old town I saw him passing by at rynek, by foot and only surrounded by a few assistants and guards. People were calling him "Andrzej, Andrzej!" and cheerfully waving to him, in the other hand the Polish flag which they brought for the commemoration of the Polish Air Force crash.

This was the moment when I started to take Duda serious, because I experienced that he can reach people. He appeared to be comprehensible to the man in the street, an attribute which is rare among politicians since they usually evoke negative emotions. Moreover, in Kraków Duda-campaigners seemed to be more enthusiastic and active. For instance in Nowa Huta, the huge Socialist Realist suburb district of Kraków, I was offered Duda-broshures, but none about incumbent Komorowski. Some talks with dissatisfied Polish students reinforced my first impression that Duda is able to win the election. My professor refused to call him "right-wing", even though most of the media does so.

As in many other European countries Poles are tired of politics in general and slow social climbing or even social decline in particular. Therefore they tend to vote for populists like Duda. He provides simple solutions und gives hope to the people. Let's see, if he can really improve people's life. The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and has the power to propose or veto legislation.

Picture: SF

Ukraine is close

What could be better than changing some perspectives?! Learning more about other countries. Seeing the world at first hand. Meeting real people.

From Germany Ukraine seems to be far away and you mostly hear about it on TV, read about it on the internet or in the newspaper. But in Poland and the baltic states the country is coming closer! From Kraków to the border it's only a trip around 3 hours by car. Thus cities like Lviv are a popular travel destination among international students.

Polens politisches Präsidentenerdbeben

Warschau am Gedenktag an den Kaczynski Absturz, Andrzej Duda mittendrin

Zu Gast auf dem Sofa: Vanessa Pudlo

Erst Cameron, jetzt Duda: nach dem überraschenden Sieg der Conservatives bei den Unterhauswahlen in Großbritannien am vergangenen Donnerstag wurde nun auch Polen eine unerwartete politische Wende beschert. Andrzej Duda, Kandidat für den Posten des polnischen Staatspräsidenten der rechtskonservativen Partei PiS, gewann mit 34,8% der Wählerstimmen die erste Runde der gestern in Polen abgehaltenen Präsidentschaftswahlen. 

Das Ergebnis gleicht einer kleinen Sensation, wurde doch zu Beginn des Jahres ein langweiliger, weil glasklarer Ausgang der Wahlen prophezeit, denn wer sollte Bronislaw Komorowski, amtierender Präsident und Kandidat der liberal-konservativen Regierungspartei PO, schon ernsthaft gefährlich werden können?

You can't resist a delicious Polish vegan burger

Vegan burger bistro "Nova Krova" Kraków

Before coming to Poland, everybody at home was wondering how I will survive the Polish food. I'm not a hundred percent vegetarian, but I try to avoid meat as much as possible. In fact, it's not that difficult! Yes, traditional food and cooking in Poland means eating meat, especially pork meat. But in Kraków one can find many vegetarian bars, bistros and restaurants or a variety of vegetarian dishes. Potato pancakes, buckwheat, sautéed wild mushrooms, pierogi stuffed with cabbage, spinat, cheese or potato to name just a few. The prized vegetable among Poles is beetroot (beet), so you cannot only find it in the famous Red Borscht Soup, but also on burgers. For sure Kraków is not a good example for an average Polish city. But also in other cities like Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Zakopane or Łódź one can experience something similiar. Like in Germany particularly young people living in cities want to eat vegetarian or vegan food, if for reasons of health and figure or environment is not always clear. 

To put it briefly, all in all Poland is not immune to the international "movement" of vegetarism. Moreover, the Polish thereby are very creative and innovative.

Who can resist this nice looking vegan seitan burger?

Photos: SF

Flags and church - the Polish Constitution Day

Today, on Mai 3, the Polish are celebrating Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja, the declaration of the Constitution of May 3 in 1791. It's a Polish national and public holiday, where even trams are decorated with Polish flags.

Huge Polish flag on the main street in Zakopane: in memory of Poland's important achievement in 1791

The Constitution was a very progressive document for its time and for generations it helped keeping alive Polish aspirations for an independent and just society

As always in Poland: The church functions as a center of celebrations