In a dramatic reversal of initial exit polls, right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki has been elected the new president of Poland, narrowly defeating liberal rival and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski with 50.9% of the vote, according to final results released by the State Electoral Commission (PKW).
The final tally stunned many Poles after exit polls published immediately after voting closed on Sunday night suggested Trzaskowski had a slight edge, with 50.3% to Nawrocki’s 49.7%. Trzaskowski had declared victory based on those numbers, telling jubilant supporters, “We won, although the phrase ‘razor’s edge’ will forever enter the Polish language and politics.” His wife, Malgorzata, added with a touch of humour, “I’m close to having a heart attack.”
But Nawrocki urged caution that night, predicting a turnaround: “Let’s not lose hope for this night. We will win during the night… I believe that we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki.”
He was right.
Nawrocki, 42, a previously little-known figure on the national political stage, has long been affiliated with the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power 18 months ago. His unexpected rise to Poland’s highest office is expected to re-energize the PiS base ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections.
Though the Polish presidency is largely ceremonial, it carries the power of veto—a key lever Nawrocki is likely to wield against Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European Union agenda. Tusk’s coalition does not hold the parliamentary supermajority needed to override presidential vetoes, leaving key reforms vulnerable.
Nawrocki supports traditional Catholic values and Polish sovereignty within the EU. While he backs continued support for war-torn Ukraine, he has opposed its fast-track accession into NATO or the EU during ongoing Russian aggression.
Contrasting Visions for Poland’s Future
The stark differences between Nawrocki and Trzaskowski reflected a deeper national divide over Poland’s role in Europe. Trzaskowski, a former Europe minister, strongly supported Prime Minister Tusk’s vision of Poland at the heart of EU integration, building strategic partnerships with Germany and France.
Nawrocki, on the other hand, has railed against what he describes as Brussels overreach. He is a vocal critic of the EU’s climate and migration policies and opposes any further ceding of national powers to the bloc. His campaign framed him as a defender of Polish traditions and identity—an image reinforced by his background as an amateur boxer and footballer, and his populist social media presence.
Trump Fan and Political Newcomer
A fan of former US President Donald Trump, Nawrocki made headlines during the campaign when he flew to Washington for a brief photo-op in the Oval Office, securing a thumbs-up snapshot with Trump—a move that endeared him to Poland’s nationalist voters.
Chioma Kalu
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