Karol Nawrocki has won Poland’s 2025 presidential election, defeating liberal rival Rafat Trzaskowski in a very close runoff. The official vote count shows Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the votes, while Trzaskowski received 49.11%.
The election was held in two rounds because no candidate received more than 50% in the first round on May 18, 2025. The second round took place on June 1, 2025, and the final results were announced on Monday morning.
Nawrocki, a conservative historian and former amateur boxer, was backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. He was also supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, adding international attention to the race.
Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, was supported by the ruling centrist Civic Coalition (KO) and had led the first round with 31.4% of the vote, compared to Nawrocki’s 29.5%.
The election was one of the closest in Poland’s history, with exit polls and early results showing both candidates neck to neck. At first, exit polls suggested Trzaskowski might win by a tiny margin, prompting him to declare victory to his supporters in Warsaw. “We’ve won! This is truly a special moment in Poland’s history, “Trzaskowski told his cheering crowd.
However, as more votes were counted, especially from smaller towns where Nawrocki has strong support, the lead shifted. Nawrocki told his supporters, “We will win and save Poland. We must win tonight,” expressing confidence before the final results were announced.
The outcome is a significant blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European Union government. Nawrocki’s win is expected to make it harder for the current government to pass reforms, as the president in Poland has the power to veto legislation.
Overriding a presidential veto requires a 60% majority in parliament, which Tusk’s coalition does not have. This could lead to political deadlock until the next parliamentary elections in 2027.
During the campaign, Nawrocki promised to defend traditional values and oppose liberal changes, such as the liberalisation of abortion laws and the introduction of civil partnerships for LGBTQ couples. Trzaskowski, in contrast, supported these reforms and campaigned for a more progressive, pro-European Poland.
Voter turnout was high, reflecting the importance of the election for Poland’s future direction. The race was widely seen as a test of populist nationalism’s strength in Europe. Nawrocki will replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who was term-limited after two terms in office.
With Nawrocki’s victory, Poland is likely to see continued tension between the president and the government. His win signals a return of nationalist influence at the highest level of Polish politics, and it may affect the country’s relations with the European Union and its domestic reform agenda.