Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki won Poland’s presidential election, official results showed Monday, in a major blow for the pro-EU government and for abortion and LGBTQ rights campaigners.
The 42-year-old fan of US President Donald Trump scored 50.9 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s runoff in the highly polarised NATO and EU nation.
His 53-year-old rival Rafal Trzaskowski, Warsaw’s pro-EU mayor and an ally of the centrist government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, won 49.1 percent.
Nawrocki said he wanted Poland to be “a state that matters in international, European and transatlantic relations”.
“I will represent you with dignity on the international state, ensuring Poland is treated as an equal,” he said on X.
Trzaskowski took hours to concede defeat.
“Congratulations to Karol Nawrocki… This win is an obligation, especially in such difficult times. Especially with a close result. Don’t forget that,” he said on X.
Nawrocki’s win will block the government’s progressive agenda for abortion and LGBTQ rights and could revive tensions with Brussels over rule-of-law issues.
“Nawrocki’s presidency will be a rough ride for the Tusk government,” analyst Piotr Buras said in a statement.
He told AFP the election result was a “yellow card” for the government and could lead to “early parliamentary elections, maybe not this year, but next”.
Nawrocki’s victory could also undermine strong ties with neighbouring Ukraine, as he is critical of Kyiv’s EU and NATO accession plans and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that he looked forward to “continued fruitful cooperation with Poland and with President Nawrocki personally”.
Polish presidents have some influence over foreign and defence policy and wield veto power over legislation.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday called for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continued support for his pro-EU government after a nationalist candidate won the presidential election.
In a televised address, Tusk said he would “ask for a vote of confidence in the lower house soon” in his coalition government.
He voiced hope that he would be able to cooperate with president-elect Karol Nawrocki.
