Who is Poland's next president Karol Nawrocki?

By Fidan Sayyadli
June 2, 2025 10:40 Updated 1d ago
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Reuters
Reuters

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian and eurosceptic, has won Poland's presidency with 50.89% of the vote, promoting a nationalist platform, military aid to Ukraine, and a strongman image that resonated with right-wing voters.

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian and newly elected president of Poland, shaped a rugged public image during his campaign, sharing footage of himself boxing and practicing at shooting ranges.

While his opponent, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, highlighted his pro-European stance, Nawrocki aligned himself with U.S. President Donald Trump, even meeting him at the White House and securing his endorsement.

According to official results, Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the vote to win the presidency.

Unlike other eurosceptic leaders in the region such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán or Slovakia’s Robert Fico—Nawrocki supports sending military aid to Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. However, he opposes Ukraine’s potential NATO and EU membership, a stance that reflects declining public support in Poland for Ukrainian refugees, who number over a million in the country.

Although the Law and Justice (PiS) party previously advocated fast-tracking Ukraine’s Western integration, Nawrocki now strikes a more cautious tone, campaigning on a "Poland First" message. "Let’s help others, but our priority must be our own citizens", he stated in April.

He is expected to continue the approach of outgoing President Andrzej Duda, also a PiS ally, particularly by using his veto power to resist the pro-European government's attempts to reverse PiS-era judicial reforms—changes the EU has criticized as undermining judicial independence.

Right-Wing Competition

In the final stages of the race, both candidates competed for voters who had backed far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen in the first round, where he gained 15% support. Trzaskowski pitched deregulation efforts, while Nawrocki emphasized his leadership of the Institute of National Remembrance, his support for gun rights, Christian values, traditional family structures, and his more skeptical stance on Ukraine—echoing many of Mentzen’s views.

Nawrocki’s wife Marta and their three children were prominently featured in his campaign materials.

However, his past drew scrutiny. Reports emerged about how he acquired an apartment from an elderly person and his admission of involvement in staged group fights. When confronted in a debate, Nawrocki—an amateur boxer—responded that his involvement in such brawls was "fair competition" based on physical strength and passion for sport.

His PiS allies accused the government and liberal media of orchestrating these controversies with assistance from national intelligence services—allegations the current administration denies.

Throughout his campaign, Nawrocki framed the election as a decision between ordinary citizens and the country’s elite leadership, telling voters in Biala Podlaska, "I am simply one of you".

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