POLAND: Nawrocki Wins Presidential Race, Risk Of More Hostile Cohabitation Rises
- Karol Nawrocki clinched victory in Poland's neck-and-neck presidential election with 50.9% of the vote and will succeed Andrzej Duda as head of state on August 6. Exit polls released when polling stations closed last night suggested that government ally Trzaskowski was the front-runner, but this changed in a couple of subsequent late polls accounting for partial results and Nawrocki crossed the finishing line as the winner. EUR/PLN trades 0.4% higher on the session.
- The result is a major setback for the pro-EU governing coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's party. It was hoping that the election of a sympathetic President would allow for a fresh legislative push and unlock potential for the implementation of key pledges from the 2023 parliamentary campaign. While the President of Poland has limited constructive powers, they can veto legislation, which can only be overruled by a qualified majority of three-fifths votes in parliament.
- Onet reported that the mood in Trzaskowski's camp was grim, with sources signalling a widespread perception that Nawrocki 'will not be a second Andrzej Duda' but will take a much more confrontational attitude and some of the key legislative projects will need to be postponed for years. The report suggests that PM Tusk may call a vote of confidence for his government to brush away speculation of a possible snap election.
- Besides the immediate freezing effect on the government's legislative agenda, the result is a yellow card for the ruling coalition, with voters preferring Nawrocki despite abundant evidence of his controversial background. Furthermore, the presidential campaign signalled a shift in political preferences as right-wing candidates won more than half of the vote in the first round. PM Tusk's coalition will now have to fight an uphill battle to regain public confidence before the 2027 parliamentary election.
Want to read more?
Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
Historical bullets
USDCAD TECHS: Hits Bear Trigger, New Cycle Low
- RES 4: 1.4415 High Apr 1
- RES 3: 1.4296 High Apr 7
- RES 2: 1.4087 50-day EMA
- RES 1: 1.3906/3935 High Apr 17 / 20-day EMA
- PRICE: 1.3793 @ 17:00 BST May 2
- SUP 1: 1.3760 Low Apr 21 and the bear trigger
- SUP 2: 1.3744 76.4% retracement of Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull run
- SUP 3: 1.3696 Low Oct 10 2024
- SUP 4: 1.3643 Low Oct 9 ‘24
The trend set-up in USDCAD deteriorated further Friday, with prices slipping through the bear trigger to narrow the gap with next support. The fresh cycle low reinforces the bear cycle and signals scope for a continuation near-term. Potential is seen for a move towards 1.3744, a Fibonacci retracement. Moving average studies are in a bear mode position, highlighting a dominant downtrend. First resistance to watch is 1.3943, the 20-day EMA.
AUDUSD TECHS: Consolidation Phase
- RES 4: 0.6550 61.8% retracement of the Sep 30 ‘24 - Apr 9 bear leg
- RES 3: 0.6528 High Nov 29 ‘24
- RES 2: 0.6471 High Dec 9 ‘24
- RES 1: 0.6470 High May 2
- PRICE: 0.6445 @ 16:59 BST May 2
- SUP 1: 0.6344/6316 Low Apr 24 / 50-day EMA
- SUP 2: 0.6181 Low Apr 11
- SUP 3: 0.6116 Low Apr 10
- SUP 4: 0.5915 Low Apr 9 and key support
AUDUSD remains inside a consolidation phase, having traded either side of the 0.6400 level for 10 consecutive sessions. The underlying trend remains bullish and the pair is trading close to recent highs. Price has recently breached a key resistance at 0.6409, the Dec 9 ‘24 high. This breach reinforces bullish conditions and signals scope for a continuation higher near-term. Sights are on 0.6471 next, the Dec 9 2024 high. Initial key support to monitor is 0.6316, the 50-day EMA. A clear break of this EMA would be a concern for bulls.
US TSYS: Rates Retreat, Sentiment Improved Though Trade Risk Remains
- Treasuries look to finish near late Friday session lows after trading firmer on the open, higher than expected Nonfarm payrolls at 177k (sa, cons 138k) of which private contributed 167k (sa, cons 125k) triggered the early reversal.
- However, two-month revisions of -58k offset the 39k beat for nonfarm payrolls, with a similar story for private (a 42k surprise vs -48k two-month revision).
- Stocks are back near four week highs - pre-"Liberation Day" levels as hopes of some trade deal being made improved sentiment.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that "Beijing is considering ways to address the Trump administration’s gripes over China’s role in the fentanyl trade... potentially offering an off-ramp from hostilities to allow for trade talks to start." The Journal notes that "discussions remain fluid" and China "would like to see some softening of stance from President Trump".
- Currently, the Jun'25 10Y contract trades -20 at 111-07.5 vs 111-02 low -- initial technical support (50-dma) followed by 110-16.5/109-08 (Low Apr 22 / 11 and the bear trigger). Curves bear flattened, 2s10s -3.480 at 48.002, 5s30s -4.911 at 86.807.
