Warsaw (TDI): Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki won Poland’s presidential election, official results showed on Monday, in a major blow for the country’s pro-EU government.
The 42-year-old, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, secured 50.89% of votes in Sunday’s runoff, the national election commission said.
Trzaskowski, an ally of the pro-European government, trailed with 49.11 percent in what many analysts described as one of the country’s most polarizing elections in recent history.
President Andrzej Duda, who had endorsed Nawrocki, acknowledged the results on social media, congratulating the winner and thanking citizens for a strong turnout of over 71 percent. Both camps had initially claimed victory after a near deadlock in exit polls, leading to a tense night in Warsaw.
Addressing supporters after polls closed, Nawrocki proclaimed, “We will win and we will save Poland.”
His election is expected to stall the current government’s efforts to expand abortion access and LGBTQ rights, and could reignite disputes with the European Union over judicial independence and democratic standards.
Nawrocki’s foreign policy stance also marks a significant shift. He has been openly skeptical of Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the EU, and has pledged to scale back aid and benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
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His recent trip to Washington saw him receive encouragement from former US President Donald Trump, who reportedly told him, “You will win.”
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also voiced her support at a conservative event in Poland last week.
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Nawrocki’s base largely consists of conservative voters who emphasize national sovereignty, tighter immigration controls, and the preservation of traditional Catholic values.
On the other side, Trzaskowski’s supporters had hoped to see Poland embrace greater EU integration and progressive reforms, including civil unions for same-sex couples and relaxed abortion laws.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
