Lawyer Andrzej Duda sworn in as Polish president

WARSAW, Poland, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Krakow-born lawyer Andrzej Duda was sworn in as Poland's sixth president on Thursday, following his election in May.

Duda took the presidential oath at the National Assembly in Warsaw to begin a five-year term. Duda, who represented the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, won against incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski, who was seeking a second term.

As a Polish president, Duda will have the power to veto acts of parliament, head the armed forces, have a say in foreign policy and draft his own bills.

Although initial polls suggested Komorowski's victory, voter disappointment with scandals surrounding his center-right Civic Platform party led to Duda's victory.

Duda's election means that the new parliament will likely be dominated by the PiS in the future.

The Civic Platform party and PiS have been at odds for the past decade. The PiS is considerably more conservative, through its staunch opposition of same-sex marriage and stronger connections to the Catholic Church.

Duda's campaign goals included the cutting of the retirement age and raising the threshold for tax-free income and paid child benefits. Duda has pledged a conservative stance by saying he will reject any bill that brings about fundamental changes to the country, adding that he seeks to "repair the republic."

One of his primary concerns is Poland's security alongside Ukraine, which is embattled with Russia-backed separatist insurgents who are rebelling against the country's westward-leaning government. To this end, Duda said he will seek more security guarantees for Poland and all former Soviet satellites in Europe through a larger North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troop presence.

By the same token, however, the president's role in Poland is considered largely ceremonial alongside a more powerful prime minister. Ewa Kopacz is the current prime minister of Poland, representing the Civic Platform party.