According to official results released on Monday, nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki emerged victorious in Poland’s presidential election, marking a setback for the nation’s pro-EU government.
The 42-year-old, who admires US President Donald Trump, garnered 50.89 per cent of the votes in Sunday’s runoff, as reported by the country’s election commission.
His opponent, Rafal Trzaskowski, the pro-EU mayor of Warsaw and a supporter of the centrist government, received 49.11 per cent in the deeply divided NATO and EU country. Duda, who supported Nawrocki, expressed gratitude to Poles for fulfilling their civic responsibilities and noted a voter turnout of 71.63 per cent.
The results came after a stressful evening where both candidates claimed victory following an exit poll that suggested they were nearly tied. Nawrocki’s election will hinder the government’s progressive initiatives concerning abortion and LGBTQ rights and may reignite tensions with Brussels regarding issues of rule of law.
Additionally, it could strain the strong relationship with Ukraine, as he has criticised Kyiv’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership and intends to reduce benefits for Ukrainian refugees.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also backed Nawrocki while attending a conservative conference in Poland last week. Polish presidents have some sway over foreign and defence policy and hold veto power over legislation, which can only be overturned by a three-fifths majority in parliament—a majority the current government lacks.
Planned reforms by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council who assumed office in 2023, have been stalled due to a stalemate with the incumbent president.
Many of Nawrocki’s supporters call for stricter immigration controls and advocate for conservative social values and increased national sovereignty within the European Union.
