with AP
Published on •Updated
Voting has begun in Poland to elect a new president. The contest pits Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU figure, against Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party.
With conservative President Andrzej Duda completing his second and final term, the new president will be a significant factor in whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist government can fulfil its centrist agenda, given the presidential power to veto laws.
Voting began at 7 am local time and will end at 9 pm, when an Ipsos exit poll is expected. Final results are likely to be announced Monday. The runoff follows a tightly contested first round on 18 May, in which Trzaskowski won just over 31% and Nawrocki nearly 30%, eliminating 11 other candidates.
The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions, and promote constructive ties with European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, sceptical of the EU, and aligned with US conservatives, including President Donald Trump.
Nawrocki’s candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and participation in a violent street battle. He denies the criminal links but acknowledges having taken part in “noble” fights. The revelations have not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated.
Amid rising security fears over Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine, both candidates support aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it in the future.
Nawrocki’s campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including an emphasis on traditional values. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish affairs to larger European powers like France and Germany.
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