In a stunning electoral upset, right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki has been officially declared President of Poland, securing 50.9% of the vote, according to the State Electoral Commission (PKW).
Nawrocki edged out liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who garnered 49.1%, despite earlier exit polls suggesting a Trzaskowski victory.
Exit Polls Misled the Nation
Initial exit polls released shortly after polls closed at 9:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. GMT) on Sunday predicted a Trzaskowski win, with 50.3% versus Nawrocki’s 49.7%. Trzaskowski even prematurely declared victory, while Nawrocki urged caution.
“Let’s not lose hope tonight. We will win during the night. The margin is minimal. I believe we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki,” Nawrocki said after the early projections.
Implications for Poland’s Political Landscape
As Poland’s new president, Nawrocki is expected to continue wielding his veto power to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU legislative agenda. His victory reinvigorates the conservative-nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which lost power 18 months ago.
The election outcome gives new momentum to Poland’s conservative opposition, strengthening their belief that they can reclaim leadership in the 2027 parliamentary elections.
