Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and insurgent populist challenger Karol Nawrocki are locked in a dead heat, exit polls suggest after Sunday’s head-to-head vote. The result would significantly impact Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s efforts to dismantle the legacy of authoritarianism under the Law and Justice party.
If Trzaskowski wins, he would end the PiS party’s 10-year rule and claim nationwide power for a second time. However, with margins too close to call, both candidates and Poland’s 38 million residents are on edge as a final result is expected in the coming hours.
A Nawrocki presidency could undermine Tusk’s agenda by granting him greater control over institutions. In contrast, Trzaskowski would likely pave the way for Tusk’s efforts to undo PiS’ transformation of Poland.
Nawrocki has been backed by PiS and received support from US President Donald Trump during his campaign, while Trzaskowski is seen as a centrist candidate who could give Tusk an open road to press ahead with his agenda.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/01/europe/poland-presidential-election-result-trzaskowski-nawrocki-latam-intl