Nationalist Karol Nawrocki Wins Poland’s Presidential Election in Narrow Vote

Nationalist Karol Nawrocki Wins Poland’s Presidential Election in Narrow Vote

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist and eurosceptic, has won Poland’s presidential election by a razor-thin margin, securing 50.89% of the vote against liberal rival Rafał Trzaskowski’s 49.11%.

Poland’s presidential runoff concluded with a dramatic finish early Monday, as Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and former head of the Institute of National Remembrance, clinched victory in one of the country’s closest elections in recent history.

The official results, confirmed by the Polish Electoral Commission, show Nawrocki edging out Warsaw’s liberal mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, by less than two percentage points.

Nawrocki campaigned on a platform emphasizing traditional Polish values, skepticism toward the European Union, and prioritizing the interests of Polish citizens over foreign nationals, including Ukrainian refugees.

He has drawn inspiration from and received backing by U.S. conservatives, notably former President Donald Trump, signaling a potential shift in Poland’s foreign policy and domestic agenda.

The election exposed deep divisions within Polish society, with high voter turnout and both candidates initially declaring victory as exit polls swung back and forth late into Sunday night. Nawrocki’s win is expected to complicate the legislative agenda of centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as the Polish president holds significant veto power over parliamentary decisions.

Observers across Europe, the United States, and neighboring Ukraine closely watched the outcome, which may steer Poland toward a more nationalist path and impact its relationships within the EU and NATO