Nawrocki Victory Shifts Poland’s Political Landscape

Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist historian backed by Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party, narrowly won the presidential runoff with 50.89% of the vote over liberal Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. Nawrocki's victory signals a shift toward conservative, Catholic, and Eurosceptic policies, and he has pledged to use his veto powers to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European reforms. The result has politically weakened Tusk’s coalition government, prompting him to call for a parliamentary vote of confidence amid concerns over the government’s stability. Nawrocki’s campaign leveraged youth discontent and promoted pro-innovation policies, including support for Bitcoin. While the presidency is largely ceremonial, Nawrocki’s veto powers complicate efforts to reverse PiS-era reforms and pass progressive legislation. The outcome is expected to affect Poland’s political direction, EU relations, and the balance of power ahead of future parliamentary elections.