Karol Nawrocki has been officially declared the winner of Poland’s 2025 presidential election, securing 50.89% of the vote in the second round, narrowly defeating Civic Coalition (Koalicja Obywatelska, KO) candidate Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. The announcement was made by the Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza (PKW, National Electoral Commission) on Monday morning.
Nawrocki, supported by the conservative Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS), garnered 10,606,877 votes, while Trzaskowski obtained 10,237,286, resulting in a margin of 369,591 votes. Voter turnout reached 71.63%, marking the highest participation in a presidential election since the establishment of the Third Polish Republic.
Election Dynamics and Outcome
The election’s outcome was particularly striking given that exit polls conducted by Ipsos for major Polish broadcasters initially suggested a slight lead for Trzaskowski, with 50.3% to Nawrocki’s 49.7%. However, subsequent late polls and the final official count reversed this projection.
Poland Elects Karol Nawrocki as President in Landmark Election
— Poland 24 🇵🇱 (@poland24com) June 2, 2025
Poland has officially chosen its next leader. The National Electoral Commission (PKW) has announced that conservative Karol Nawrocki won the second round of the 2025 presidential election, securing 50.89 percent of… pic.twitter.com/alPcIeTnG1
In the first round held on May 18, Trzaskowski led with 31.36% of the vote, followed closely by Nawrocki at 29.54%. The narrow margin in the runoff reflects a deeply polarized electorate and underscores the competitive nature of the race.
Political Implications
Nawrocki’s victory introduces a potential counterbalance to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist, pro-European Union government. Although the Polish presidency is largely ceremonial, it holds significant powers, including the ability to veto legislation and influence foreign policy decisions. Given that Tusk’s coalition lacks a supermajority in the Sejm (the lower house of parliament), Nawrocki’s presidency could impede the government’s legislative agenda, particularly in areas such as judicial reform and social policy.
Nawrocki, a historian and former head of the Institute of National Remembrance (Instytut Pamięci Narodowej), has been associated with nationalist and conservative positions. His campaign emphasized traditional values and national sovereignty, aligning with the broader ideological stance of PiS. His election is seen as a resurgence for PiS, which had lost parliamentary power in the 2023 elections.
Domestic and International Reactions
Outgoing President Andrzej Duda congratulated Nawrocki on his victory, expressing gratitude for the high voter turnout and civic engagement.
Internationally, reactions were mixed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended congratulations and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation based on shared democratic values. However, some European leaders expressed concern over the potential shift in Poland’s stance towards the EU.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Nawrocki, expressing hope for fruitful collaboration between the neighboring countries.
