Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), speaks to supporters following the Polish presidential runoff election on June 1, 2025. / Credit: Marek Antoni Iwaczuk/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
CNA Staff, Jun 2, 2025 / 14:49 pm (CNA).
In a tightly contested runoff election, nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki won Poland's presidency with 50.89% of the vote, narrowly defeating Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski's 49.11%, according to final results announced Monday.
Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and former amateur boxer, ran on a platform emphasizing traditional Catholic values and cultural and political conservatism. He has vowed to maintain close ties between the Polish government and the Catholic Church, saying he views faith as a cornerstone of national culture.
During the campaign, Nawrocki made headlines by publicly shredding a copy of "Gender Queer: A Memoir," signaling his staunch opposition to progressive social policies. He has pledged to veto any legislation liberalizing Poland's strict abortion laws or introducing same-sex civil unions, citing the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual ethics and the need to protect traditional family structures.
"Poland's strength lies in its faith and family values," Nawrocki declared at a campaign rally, framing his presidency as a defense against secular influences.
His conservative stance contrasts sharply with Trzaskowski, who campaigned on progressive reforms, including abortion law liberalization, support for LGBTQ+ civil partnerships, and deeper European integration.
Nawrocki is expected to use his presidential veto to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European Union, reformist legislative efforts.
The Polish presidency, while largely ceremonial, wields significant influence through its veto power, which requires a 60% parliamentary majority to override — a threshold Tusk's coalition lacks. This dynamic echoes the tenure of outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS (Law and Justice Party) ally who consistently thwarted Tusk's attempts to reverse PiS-era judicial reforms.
Poland's president is elected to a five-year term through a two-round voting system, with a runoff between the top two candidates if no one secures a majority in the first round. Presidents may serve up to two terms. Duda's second term ends on Aug. 6, when president-elect Nawrocki will be sworn in to office.
The election, the closest in Poland's post-communist history, underscores the country's deepening political divide. Early exit polls had predicted a Trzaskowski win, while the actual results ended up reversing those projections. Exit polls also showed that younger voters leaned toward Nawrocki in the runoff.
Nawrocki's win has broader implications for Poland's role in Europe. His opposition to strengthening EU ties and Ukraine's NATO membership sets him apart from Trzaskowski's pro-EU platform.
Nawrocki has expressed strong opposition to illegal immigration, advocating for policies that prioritize Polish citizens and reject EU-driven migration frameworks.
"My Poland is a Poland without illegal migrants," he said during his campaign.
Conservative European leaders celebrated the result, with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán calling it a "fantastic victory" and France's Marine Le Pen, deputy of the French National Assembly, praising it as a rejection of the "Brussels oligarchy."
Nawrocki attended the National Day of Prayer at the White House last month, posing for photos with President Donald Trump, who supported Nawrocki's presidential bid.
At a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) meeting in Poland last week, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also strongly endorsed Nawrocki.
"I met with Karol, and let me be clear: He must be Poland's next president. Are we on the same page?" Noem declared.
"You need to choose the right leader," she continued. "You can be the ones to steer Europe back toward conservative values."
