Trump-backed conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential race

By VANESSA GERA
Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland — Conservative Karol Nawrocki’s victory in Poland’s weekend presidential runoff has set the country on a more nationalist course — and cast doubt on the viability of the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk after the defeat of his liberal ally.

Nawrocki, who was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, won 50.89% of votes in a very tight race against Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%, according to the final results published on Monday morning.

By evening, Tusk said he would ask parliament to hold a vote of confidence in his coalition government, a fragile multiparty alliance that includes left-wingers, centrists and agrarian conservatives.

Tusk’s government exists separately from the presidency, but the president holds power to veto laws, and Nawrocki’s win will make it extremely difficult for Tusk to press his pro-European agenda. The race revealed deep divisions in the country along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union.

The result leaves Tusk politically wounded, and there are questions about whether his coalition can survive to the end of its term in late 2027. There were already calls on Monday from political opponents for him to step down.

Tusk said in a video posted to social media that there's a lot of work for the government to do, and its first test would be the vote of confidence held in “the near future.” If Tusk survives the confidence vote, it would show he still has a mandate to govern.

He also said he was prepared to work with Nawrocki if the willingness is there.

“I want everyone to see — including our opponents, at home and abroad — that we are ready for this situation, that we understand the gravity of the moment, and that we do not intend to back down, not even a step,” he said.

Nawrocki thanks his voters

In his first public comments since his win was announced, Nawrocki thanked those who voted for him and said he would work for the causes that matter to them.

]“We want to live in a safe country with a strong economy, one that cares for the most vulnerable. A country that matters in international, European, and transatlantic relations. A country that cherishes its centuries-old traditions and respects its history,” he wrote on social media.

Nawrocki’s supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic values. Those who oppose secular trends, including LGBTQ+ visibility, have embraced him, viewing him as a reflection of the values they grew up with.

Most day-to-day power in the Polish political system rests with a prime minister chosen by the parliament. However, the president’s role isn’t merely ceremonial. The office also holds the power to influence foreign policy.

Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a conservative whose second and final term ends on Aug. 6.

Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki. “I fought for us to build a strong, safe, honest, and empathetic Poland together,” he wrote on social media. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to convince the majority of citizens of my vision for Poland.”