Karol Nawrocki Wins Polish Presidency with 50.9%, Defeats Trzaskowski in Tight Runoff
WARSAW — Karol Nawrocki has been elected President of Poland with 50.9% of the vote, narrowly defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a fiercely contested runoff, according to final results released by the National Election Commission on Monday.
The second-round election, held on Sunday, saw a high turnout of 71.63%, with nearly 29 million registered voters participating. Nawrocki, a historian and the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, was supported by the conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party. His opponent, Trzaskowski, had led in several pre-election polls and ultimately garnered 49.1% of the vote.
This election highlights the sharp polarization of Polish politics, pitting Nawrocki’s nationalist and Eurosceptic platform against Trzaskowski’s pro-European agenda backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government. Key issues at stake included judicial reform, relations with the European Union, social policies, and Poland’s position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Analysts say Nawrocki’s victory could create tensions with Tusk’s coalition, as the new president holds the power to veto legislation. With a five-year term ahead, Nawrocki is expected to challenge the government’s liberal agenda, potentially reshaping the political balance in Poland.
