Conservative opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki has narrowly won Poland’s presidential runoff with 50.89% of the vote, defeating liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%, marking a significant setback for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government.
Nawrocki, 42, a historian and former head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, was nominated and supported by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. He campaigned on traditional values, skepticism toward the EU, and opposition to immigration. Despite numerous scandals, including allegations of ties to the criminal underworld and participation in pre-arranged street brawls, Nawrocki’s support among right-wing voters remained strong as they viewed the attacks as politically motivated.
Nawrocki is expected to continue the pattern established by outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who frequently used presidential veto power to block Tusk’s liberal reforms, particularly attempts to restore judicial independence and liberalize abortion laws.
