Poland’s Presidential Race Heads to Runoff Amid Right-Wing Surge

By Staff, Agencies

Poland is headed for a presidential runoff after a closely contested first round of voting on Sunday, with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly leading conservative rival Karol Nawrocki, according to exit polls.

Trzaskowski, representing the pro-European Civic Coalition, secured 31.1% of the vote, just ahead of Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the ruling Law and Justice [PiS] party, who garnered 29.7%. Combined with other right-wing contenders—Slawomir Mentzen [15.4%] and Grzegorz Braun [6.2%]—right-leaning candidates amassed over 51% of the vote, signaling strong momentum for conservative forces.

Mentzen, leader of the nationalist New Hope party, has campaigned on a platform of Euroscepticism, limited government, and strong national identity. His performance reflects growing support for right-wing policies across Europe.

The runoff is scheduled for June 1, with the winner set to take office in August. Trzaskowski, who narrowly lost to President Andrzej Duda five years ago, has vowed to reverse controversial judicial reforms implemented by PiS and bolster defense capabilities, including continued support for Ukraine—though he plans to scale back social assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

Nawrocki also supports military aid to Ukraine but takes a more nationalist stance, insisting Ukraine address historical grievances related to the World War II-era Volyn massacres before advancing toward EU or NATO membership. He has emphasized prioritizing Polish citizens in public services.

Nawrocki’s campaign gained traction after meeting with US President Donald Trump, who reportedly expressed confidence in his victory. The tight race reflects broader political shifts across the European Union, where right-wing parties are gaining strength.