Karol Nawrocki, an independent candidate backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, has emerged victorious in Poland’s presidential runoff election, according to final results released early Monday by the Polish National Electoral Commission (PKW).
Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the vote, narrowly defeating ruling Civic Coalition (KO) candidate and Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who garnered 49.11%, as reported by Xinhua.
Despite trailing in pre-election polls and even in Sunday evening’s initial exit surveys, Nawrocki managed to pull off a surprise win. The PKW’s official website confirmed his election with the message “Elected in the second round” posted beside his name.
A historian born in Gdansk in 1983, Nawrocki currently heads Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance. This marked his first presidential bid, and he will now succeed outgoing President Andrzej Duda when his second and final term ends on August 6.
Like Nawrocki, Duda was a PiS ally and frequently clashed with the current government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, often blocking or delaying legislation through vetoes and legal challenges.
Nawrocki’s victory, aided by support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, signals a likely return to more nationalist and conservative policies in Poland’s executive leadership, even as the legislature remains under liberal control.
