Historian defeats Warsaw mayor in a tight runoff
Karol Nawrocki has won Poland's presidential election with 50.9% of the vote, narrowly defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a fiercely contested runoff, according to official results released by the country's Election Commission.
The second round of voting, held Sunday, saw nearly 29 million registered voters choose between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki, a historian backed by the opposition conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. The high-stakes election ended with Nawrocki securing a slim majority, while Trzaskowski, who had been slightly ahead in pre-election polls, finished with 49.1%.
Voter turnout stood at 71.63%.
The runoff took place against a backdrop of intense political polarization in Poland, highlighting the power struggle between Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European government and the opposition. Key issues fueling the divide include relations with the European Union, judicial reforms, abortion laws, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Political analysts say Nawrocki, known for his Eurosceptic stance and admiration for US President Donald Trump's policies, may challenge Tusk's coalition government by exercising his presidential veto powers during his five-year term.
