Overview

• Karol Nawrocki clinched the presidency with 50.89% of the vote on June 1, defeating Rafal Trzaskowski by about 1.78 percentage points.
• Backed by the conservative PiS party, he opposes Ukraine’s EU and NATO accession and has pledged to prioritize social benefits for Polish citizens over refugees.
• Nawrocki’s admiration for Donald Trump translated into high-profile US endorsements, including a White House visit and support from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
• His expansive veto power over legislation could stall Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s agenda on abortion reform, LGBT+ rights and judicial independence.
• In response to his election, Tusk announced plans to seek a parliamentary confidence vote to sustain his government’s support.