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Pro-EU candidate Rafał Trzaskowski appears to be on the verge of winning Poland’s presidential run-off vote after exit polls showed him with a slight lead over his right-wing opponent. According to an Ipsos exit poll, Trzaskowski, the Warsaw mayor representing Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centre-right Civic Platform party, is leading with 50.3% of the votes, while Karol Nawrocki, a historian from the nationalist opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, has 49.7%.
If the results are confirmed, it would allow Tusk to continue with his reform agenda and would mark another setback for Donald Trump’s political movement on the global stage, following recent election defeats for right-wing politicians aligned with the US president in Canada, Australia, and Romania.
In a speech to his supporters in Warsaw, Trzaskowski expressed gratitude and declared victory in what he described as an “incredibly close” run-off. He emphasized his commitment to being “the president of all Poles” and pledged to bridge the divides that were highlighted during the election campaign.
On the other hand, Nawrocki remained defiant, telling his supporters that they would emerge victorious and save Poland from what he described as a monopoly of power by Tusk. Despite the exit poll results, Nawrocki expressed confidence in a turnaround and urged his followers to remain hopeful.
The electoral commission is expected to announce the final results on Monday, providing clarity on the outcome of the closely contested election. Leading up to the vote, Tusk had warned voters about the potential consequences of electing Nawrocki, including the risk of derailing reforms and weakening Poland’s position within the EU amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Tusk has been stymied in his efforts to push through reforms by outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who has used his veto powers to block Tusk’s initiatives since his coalition government took power in 2023.
As Poland awaits the official results of the presidential run-off, the nation is poised for a new chapter in its political landscape, with implications that extend beyond its borders. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
