Conservative Historian Karol Nawrocki Wins Polish Presidency

Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing conservative historian supported by Poland's Law and Justice party, has narrowly won the Polish presidential election with around 51% of the vote, defeating the liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. Nawrocki is an EU skeptic who supports traditional Catholic values and Polish sovereignty within the EU, and he opposes Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU during the ongoing Russian aggression. Although the presidency in Poland is largely ceremonial, Nawrocki's power to veto legislation may block Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU reform agenda, as Tusk's coalition lacks a parliamentary majority to override vetoes. The election result signals a resurgence of the national conservative opposition, potentially complicating Poland's relations with the EU and neighboring countries, while both candidates agree on strong defense spending and continued support for Ukraine. Nawrocki's victory may also align Poland more closely with right-wing nationalist leaders in the region. Official final results were awaited, but media outlets widely reported Nawrocki's win based on vote counts exceeding 99%.