Poland’s 2025 presidential election ended in high drama, with conservative historian Karol Nawrocki narrowly defeating centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski in the runoff. Official results show Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the vote (10,606,877 votes), while Trzaskowski finished with 49.11% (10,237,286 votes) The margin—just over 369,000 votes—marks one of the closest presidential races in Polish history.
The first round, held on May, saw Trzaskowski leading with 31.4%, followed by Nawrocki at 29.5%. However, the runoff on June reversed the momentum, with Nawrocki’s strong support in rural areas proving decisive Early exit polls had suggested a possible Trzaskowski victory, prompting both candidates to claim the edge before the final count was released.
Nawrocki’s win signals a shift toward nationalist policies and could complicate the pro-European agenda of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition government, which lacks the parliamentary majority to override presidential vetoes With turnout at a high 71.6%, the election underscores deep divisions in Polish society and sets the stage for contentious political battles ahead.
