In is congratulations message, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) highlighted its appreciation for Duda’s commitment to the preservation of Jewish heritage sites and support for the Jewish community in Poland.
The World Jewish Congress has congratulated Polish President Andrzej Duda on his reelection. He was narrowly elected to a second term after Sunday’s presidential election, the country’s closest election since the end of communist rule in 1989.
Duda is a social conservative allied with the government led by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.
His rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, a liberal and pro-European who is Mayor of Warsaw, conceded defeat Monday afternoon after the country’s electoral commission said that with 99.9 percent of the actual vote counted, Duda had secured 51.21 percent of the vote while Trzaskowski won 48.79 percent.
In his congratulations message, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) highlighted its appreciation for Duda’s commitment to the preservation of Jewish heritage sites and support for the Jewish community in Poland.
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said, “During his first term, President Duda exhibited an understanding of the challenges faced by the Jews of Poland and has worked to improve relations with both the Polish and international Jewish communities, as well as with the State of Israel.’’
‘’In both word and deed, President Duda has sought to preserve the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau – the killing field of European Jewry – for future generations. As he eloquently declared on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in January 2020, he has ‘‘the privilege and honor to renew the obligation … to always nurture the memory of and guard the truth about what happened.’’
Lauder said that as Jewish communities throughout Europe, including in Poland, have directly confronted a disturbing resurgence of antisemitism. ‘’President Duda has spoken out against this hatred and we remain hopeful that he will continue to do so.”