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19h ago

Polish Presidential Race Heads to Runoff After Tight First Round

Final results confirm Trzaskowski leading narrowly over Nawrocki, with a decisive June 1 vote set to determine Poland’s political trajectory.

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Voter cast their ballots polling stations opened in the first round of Poland's presidential elections in Warsaw, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland's national conservative Law and Justice party, waves to supporters as first exit polls following presidential elections are announced in Gdansk, Poland, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)
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Overview

  • Rafal Trzaskowski, a pro-European centrist, secured 31.36% of the vote in the first round, narrowly ahead of nationalist Karol Nawrocki with 29.54%.
  • The June 1 runoff will decide whether Poland continues on a pro-European path under Prime Minister Donald Tusk or shifts toward a nationalist agenda aligned with former President Donald Trump.
  • Far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen garnered 15.4%, and his supporters could play a pivotal role in determining the second-round outcome.
  • The election has been framed by debates on judicial reform, foreign policy, and social issues, including abortion and LGBTQ rights.
  • Outgoing President Andrzej Duda's vetoes have blocked Tusk’s reforms, making the presidency crucial for implementing the government’s agenda.