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4d ago

Poland Prepares for Presidential Election with Runoff Likely

The May 18 vote sets the stage for a June 1 runoff between centrist Rafał Trzaskowski and nationalist Karol Nawrocki, as debates focus on security, migration, and abortion rights.

People carry placards in support of conservative presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Supporters join a campaign rally in support of presidential candidate Szymon Hołownia in Warsaw, Poland ,Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal candidate in Poland's presidential election, speaks to supporters during a campaign stop, in Lodz, Poland, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
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Overview

  • Poland's presidential election on May 18 is expected to lead to a June 1 runoff due to a crowded field of 13 candidates, none polling above 50%.
  • Rafał Trzaskowski, representing the centrist Civic Platform, and Karol Nawrocki, backed by the nationalist Law and Justice party, are the frontrunners.
  • Key campaign issues include Poland's role in NATO, migration restrictions, and the liberalization of abortion laws, highlighting deep political and social divides.
  • Incumbent President Andrzej Duda's veto power has blocked reforms by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government, raising stakes for the election's outcome.
  • Observers note the campaign's inflammatory rhetoric, with allegations of racism and antisemitism reaching levels not seen in Poland since 1989.