Who is the New Polish President?

Poland has elected a new president, with Karol Nawrocki narrowly defeating liberal opponent Rafal Trzaskowski in a tightly contested runoff. According to the final results released by the electoral commission, Nawrocki secured the presidency with 50.89% of the vote. Nawrocki’s victory reflects deep political divisions in Poland, where issues such as migration, the cost of living, and national identity have dominated public discourse.

“Poland First”

Supported by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Nawrocki ran on a nationalist platform under the slogan “Poland First,” promising to prioritize Polish citizens.

Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, speaks next to his wife Marta Nawrocka, his sons Antoni and Daniel and daughter Katarzyna, as they react to the exit polls of the second round of the presidential election, in Warsaw, Poland, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

Nawrocki is expected to maintain a path similar to outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a close PiS ally. Observers expect him to use his veto powers to block reforms from the pro-European government, particularly efforts to undo judicial changes made by the previous PiS administration—reforms that have been heavily criticized by the European Union for weakening judicial independence.

Portraying himself as a man of the people, Nawrocki cast the election as a referendum on Poland’s current government, which he accused of being a “metropolitan elite” disconnected from the needs of ordinary citizens. “I am simply one of you,” he told supporters during a campaign stop in the town of Biala Podlaska.

Nawrocki, previously the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), appealed to voters with promises of support for gun ownership, Christian values, and traditional family structures. He also targeted voters from the far-right who supported third-place candidate Slawomir Mentzen, aligning with them on issues such as Ukrainian policy and national identity. Throughout his campaign, Nawrocki’s wife Marta and their three children featured prominently, reinforcing his family-oriented image.

Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, votes alongside his wife Marta, children Daniel and Katarzyna, and his mother Elzbieta, during the second round of presidential election, at a polling station in Warsaw, Poland, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

However, his past became a subject of public controversy. Media reports questioned the acquisition of an apartment from a pensioner and revealed his involvement in orchestrated street brawls during his youth. Confronted with the allegations, the amateur boxer responded during a debate: “All my sports activities were based on the strength of my heart, the strength of my muscles, my fists. It was a fair competition, regardless of the form.”

PiS allies claim the current government and liberal media orchestrated the negative coverage with the help of state security services, a charge the government denies

Stance on Ukraine

Though Nawrocki differs from some of his regional eurosceptic counterparts—such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico—by supporting military aid to Ukraine, he has made clear that he opposes Ukraine’s entry into Western alliances like the EU and NATO. This nuanced position appears aimed at a Polish electorate growing increasingly fatigued by the long war next door and the continued presence of over a million Ukrainian refugees.

His critics have accused him of fueling unease over Ukrainian migration, echoing far-right narratives. In response, Nawrocki has stated: “Let’s help others, but let’s take care of our own citizens first.”

World Leaders Congratulate New Polish President

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, expressed his excitement for the election outcome and welcomed Nawrocki to help strengthen central european alliance.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Nawrocki in a post on X expressing her confidence in a continued cooperation with Poland.

Finally President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Nawrocki through a post on X, emphasizing that the country remains a pillar of European regional security