Andrzej Duda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrzej Duda
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Official portrait, 2019
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| 6th President of Poland | |
| Assumed office 6 August 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Ewa Kopacz Beata Szydło Mateusz Morawiecki Donald Tusk |
| Preceded by | Bronisław Komorowski |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 25 May 2015 |
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| Constituency | 10 – Kraków |
| Member of the Sejm | |
| In office 8 November 2011 – 1 July 2014 |
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| Constituency | 13 – Kraków II |
| Member of the Kraków City Council | |
| In office 2 December 2010 – 8 November 2011 |
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| Constituency | 2 – Prądnik Biały/Krowodrza |
| Undersecretary of State in the Chancellery of the President | |
| In office 16 January 2008 – 6 July 2010 |
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| President | Lech Kaczyński vacant |
| Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Justice | |
| In office 1 August 2006 – 15 November 2007 |
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| Minister | Zbigniew Ziobro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Andrzej Sebastian Duda
16 May 1972 Kraków, Poland |
| Political party | Independent (2015–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Law and Justice (2005–2015) Freedom Union (2000–2001) |
| Spouse |
Agata Kornhauser
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Presidential Palace |
| Alma mater | Jagiellonian University |
| Signature |  |
Andrzej Sebastian Duda (born 16 May 1972) is a Polish lawyer and politician. He has been the sixth and current president of Poland since 2015. Before becoming president, he was a member of the Polish parliament (Sejm) from 2011 to 2014. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 to 2015.
Duda became the presidential candidate for the Law and Justice party (PiS) in the May 2015 election. He won the election, beating the president at the time, Bronisław Komorowski. After winning, he left his political party, as presidents usually do.
In 2019, his party supported him for re-election in 2020. He won again, defeating Rafał Trzaskowski. During his time as president, Duda has often supported the ideas of the Law and Justice party. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Duda has been important in helping to organize international support for Ukraine's military.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Andrzej Duda was born on 16 May 1972 in Kraków, Poland. His parents, Janina and Jan Tadeusz Duda, were university professors. His grandfather fought in the Polish–Soviet War and was part of the Home Army during Second World War.
From 1987 to 1991, Duda went to Jan III Sobieski High School, Kraków. He was very good at subjects like history and literature. Later, he studied law at the Jagiellonian University. In 2001, he became a research assistant there. In 2005, he earned his law degree. He has mostly been away from the university since 2006 because of his political work.
Political Career
Duda started his political journey with the Freedom Union Party in the early 2000s. After the 2005 elections, he began working with the Law and Justice Party (PiS). He worked in the Ministry of Justice from 2006 to 2007. Then, he was a member of the Polish State Tribunal until 2008.
From 2008 to 2010, when Lech Kaczyński was president, Duda worked in the President's office. In 2010, he tried to become the Mayor of Kraków but did not win. However, in the 2011 parliamentary election, he won enough votes to become a member of the Sejm (Polish parliament).
In 2013, a news magazine called Polityka said Duda was one of the most active members of parliament. They noted he was open to other ideas and avoided personal attacks. Duda stayed in the Sejm until he was elected to the European Parliament in 2014.
Presidential Elections
2015 Election
Bronisław Komorowski was the president and could run for re-election. Duda was his main opponent from the Law and Justice party.
In the first round of the 2015 presidential election, Duda received the most votes. In the second round, Duda won with 51.55% of the votes. President Komorowski received 48.45%. On 26 May 2015, Duda officially left his political party. This is a common practice for presidents in Poland.
2020 Election
In the first round of the 2020 presidential election, Duda again received the most votes. The mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, came in second. The second round of voting happened on 12 July. Duda won re-election and continued his presidency.
Presidency (2015–Present)
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Andrzej Duda's first five-year term as president began on 6 August 2015. He took an oath of office during a special session of the National Assembly.
In September 2015, Poland's Prime Minister, Ewa Kopacz, said Poland would take in 2,000 people seeking safety. This was to show "European solidarity." Duda had previously said he would not agree to forced numbers of people from other countries.
Duda and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović started the Three Seas Initiative. This project aims to connect countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Duda has met with the leader of China, Xi Jinping, several times. He believes Polish companies can benefit greatly from China's Belt and Road Initiative. Duda and Xi signed an agreement to work together as long-term partners. Duda hopes Poland can become a main entry point to Europe for China.
His approval ratings were very high in 2017 and 2018, reaching over 70%. This was a record for a Polish president.
In June 2023, Duda shared three goals for Poland's time leading the European Union in 2025. These goals include working more closely with the United States and expanding the EU to include Ukraine, Moldova, and other countries. He also wants to make Europe's energy supply more secure.
In 2024, Duda disagreed with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's plans to stop people from seeking safety in Poland. Duda called it a "fatal mistake."
Important Decisions
Judicial Changes
In 2015, Duda did not approve five judges chosen for the Constitutional Tribunal. He later approved five other candidates for the same positions.
In December 2015, Duda signed a new law about the Constitutional Tribunal. Some legal experts said this law went against the Polish Constitution.
In July 2017, Duda decided to stop two new laws about the justice system. These laws were supported by the government. His spokesman said a third law about common courts would be signed. This showed Duda sometimes disagreed with his party's policies.
Foreign Policy
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In October 2017, Duda met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He supported Turkey joining the European Union.
U.S. President Donald Trump praised Duda's work. In September 2019, Trump and Duda agreed to send 1,000 U.S. troops to Poland. In June 2020, Trump said the U.S. planned to move some troops from Germany to Poland. He noted that Poland pays its share for NATO defense.
In February 2022, Duda went to the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Some Polish diplomats were concerned because some Western countries were boycotting the Olympics due to human rights issues in China.
In October 2022, Duda said Poland would be willing to host U.S. nuclear weapons.
In March 2023, Duda visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He focused on making sure Poland has enough energy and on working together with these countries.
On 7 October 2023, he spoke out against Hamas' actions during the Israel–Hamas war. He showed his support for Israel and its right to defend itself.
Lex Tusk Law
On 29 May 2023, Duda announced he would sign a law called "Lex Tusk." This law would create a group to investigate Russian influence in Poland. The law was meant to release its first report before the parliamentary elections in September. The European Commission started legal action against Poland because of concerns the law might be used against opposition politicians.
Personal Life
Duda is married to Agata Kornhauser-Duda. She is a teacher of German at a high school in Kraków. They met when they were in high school and got married on 21 December 1994. They have one daughter named Kinga, born in 1995. Duda's father-in-law, Julian Kornhauser, is a well-known writer.
Duda enjoys skiing and participated in university skiing championships.
He is a practicing Roman Catholic. He often takes part in religious ceremonies, like Midnight Mass and the Corpus Christi procession.
Honours
National Honours
Poland: Order of the White Eagle (ex officio)- Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (ex officio)
Foreign Honours
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (2015)
Bulgaria: I Class Order of Stara Planina (Стара планина) (14 April 2016)
Czech Republic: Collar of the Order of the White Lion (15 March 2016)
Finland: Grand Cross with Collar Order of the White Rose of Finland (2017)
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (2017)
Italy: Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 April 2023)
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (2018)
Lithuania: Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (21 February 2019)
Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (23 May 2016)
Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Grand Cross (2008)
Romania: Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (10 July 2016)
Slovakia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross (2019)
Hungary: Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2020)
Ukraine: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (2021)
International Olympic Committee: Gold Olympic Order (23 July 2022)
North Macedonia: Grand Cross of the Order 8-September (24 October 2022)
South Korea: Grand Order of Mugunghwa (13 July 2023)
See Also
In Spanish: Andrzej Duda para niños
Images for kids
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Andrzej Duda's signature
