Karol Nawrocki, the populist-right opposition candidate backed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), has narrowly won Poland’s presidential election in a closely contested runoff, official results show.
Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the vote, edging out his pro-European rival Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%.
The result marks a significant setback for Poland’s pro-EU coalition government led by Donald Tusk, and is expected to deepen the nation’s political standoff while also straining relations with European partners.
The final tally comes after a dramatic shift from the initial exit poll, which had suggested a slight lead for Trzaskowski by just 0.6 percentage points. That early projection had prompted Trzaskowski to declare victory.
However, Nawrocki refused to concede at the time, insisting that the final count would favour him. “We will win and save Poland,” he said in a defiant speech. “We must win tonight.”
The election followed a bitter campaign, with the two candidates presenting sharply different visions for the country. Trzaskowski campaigned on a pro-European platform, while Nawrocki offered a more nationalist, PiS-aligned approach.
Political analysts say Nawrocki’s win could complicate Poland’s position in the EU and extend domestic political gridlock, as the president holds veto power over government legislation.
The result has triggered reactions across the political spectrum, with both sides acknowledging the high stakes for the future direction of the country.
