The contest pitted two elderly party leaders against each other, probably for the last time. One of them was a cosmopolitan liberal, whose support came largely from the urban areas of the country; the other was a right-wing populist famous for repeating conspiracy theories and bashing foreigners and LGBTQ people. Consistent with his reactionary beliefs, the latter supported increasing the size of the welfare state for conservatives and rural residents, and did his best to turn a vibrant liberal democracy into an illiberal state, largely by gaining complete control over the judicial system.
Is it Poland in 2023 or America in 2024? You decide.