Nawrocki Narrowly Wins Polish Presidential Election

Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist and eurosceptic historian backed by Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS) and endorsed by Donald Trump, has narrowly won the Polish presidential election with 50.89% of the vote over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. Nawrocki’s victory is expected to stall the liberal reforms proposed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU government, as the president’s veto power could lead to legislative gridlock. His campaign centered on prioritizing Polish interests, opposing refugees from Ukraine, and resisting Ukraine’s bids to join NATO and the EU, as well as expressing skepticism toward EU climate and social integration policies. Despite these stances, Nawrocki is not expected to change Poland’s opposition to Russia. The result underscores deep political divisions in Polish society and is seen as a boost for anti-EU and pro-Trump movements in Europe. High voter turnout and the close margin highlight Poland’s pivotal role in shaping the continent’s political trajectory.