Right-wing populist Karol Nawrocki has narrowly won Poland's presidential election in a runoff against pro-European Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
Nawrocki won 50.89% of the vote compared with Trzaskowski's 49.11%, according to Poland's National Electoral Commission. Initial Ipsos exit polls showed Trzaskowski with a 0.6% lead.
“Thank you! For participating in the presidential elections. For the turnout. For fulfilling your civic duty. For taking responsibility for Poland,” wrote outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who endorsed Nawrocki. “Congratulations to the winner! Stay strong, Poland!”
Trzaskowski had declared victory soon after the polls closed, saying: “This is truly a special moment in Poland’s history. I am convinced that it will allow us to move forward and focus on the future.” Nawrocki did not concede at the time.
Nawrocki heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a state research institute intended to investigate Nazism and communism prior to 1990.
He supports integration with NATO and United States President Donald Trump, with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recommending Poland elect Nawrocki at a conservative conference in the country last week. Nawrocki is backed by the right-wing populist Law and Justice party, which governed Poland until Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s parliamentary victories in 2023.
Nawrocki has said he will continue Poland's aid to Ukraine, but has opposed Ukraine's potential NATO entry and offering social benefits to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Trzaskowski, backed by Tusk, led the initial round of voting two weeks ago with 31.36% of the vote to Nawrocki’s 29.54%. A centrist who supports close integration with Europe and social reforms like liberalising abortion laws, Trzaskowski has been Warsaw’s mayor since 2018.
Polish presidents’ powers are largely limited to foreign and defence policy, as well as vetoing legislation. Duda has stymied several of Tusk's reform efforts, including vetoing bills to reform the judiciary, and this could continue under the ideologically-aligned Nawrocki.
Outgoing president Duda, affiliated with the Law and Justice party, will leave his post in August.
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