Conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki has won Poland’s presidential runoff election, securing 50.89% of the vote in a razor-thin race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%, according to final results released Monday.
Nawrocki, 42, a political novice and amateur boxer backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, will succeed outgoing President Andrzej Duda, whose term ends on August 6. The election outcome is expected to prolong political gridlock in Poland, as Nawrocki is likely to use his veto power to block legislation proposed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist coalition government.
The runoff followed a polarizing first round on May 18, which revealed stark divisions in the NATO and EU member state. Initial exit polls on Sunday night showed Trzaskowski with a slight lead, but as later counts came in, Nawrocki pulled ahead. Both candidates prematurely declared victory in emotional speeches to their supporters in Warsaw.
“We will win and save Poland,” Nawrocki told his backers. Meanwhile, Trzaskowski insisted, “I will be your president,” before the final tally confirmed his defeat.
Voter turnout reached 72.8%, surpassing the 67.3% recorded in the first round. Poland’s electoral commission reported 232 alleged voting irregularities but confirmed the results were valid.
Nawrocki’s victory deals a blow to Tusk’s government, which has struggled to advance key policies, including judicial reforms and abortion rights, due to resistance from Duda. The new president is expected to maintain this adversarial stance, potentially stalling Tusk’s legislative agenda.
International reactions were mixed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Nawrocki, praising Poland as a “pillar of regional and European security.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope for continued cooperation, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed the result as a “fantastic victory” for conservatives.
Financial markets reacted cautiously, with Poland’s blue-chip index dropping over 2% amid concerns of prolonged political instability. Analysts warn that Nawrocki’s presidency could further strain Poland’s relations with the EU, particularly over rule-of-law disputes.
The election underscores deepening ideological rifts in Central Europe, coming just weeks after Romania’s centrist president secured reelection against hard-right challengers. Nawrocki’s win signals a reinforcement of nationalist influence in the region, with implications for EU unity and regional policy.