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Followers of the conservative presidential candidate, Karol Nawrocki, stop on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Warsaw, Poland. The writing is: Karol, the man who becomes president, awake, Poland! And our President Karol Nawrocki.
Czarek Sokolowski/AP
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Czarek Sokolowski/AP
Warsaw, Poland – Poland votes on Sunday at a time of the president in a time of increased security concerns that result from the continuing war in neighboring Ukraine, and growing concern that the commitment of the United States could weaken Europe’s security under President Donald Trump.
The two best leaders are the mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaswski, a liberal association with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian without prior political experience, which is supported by the national conservative law and the judicial party.
The latest opinion surveys show Trzaskowski with around 30% support and Nawrocki in the mid -20s. A second round between the two is expected to take place on June 1st.
The choice is also a test of the strength of other forces, including the extreme right.
Sławomir Mentzen, a right-wing candidate who combines the populist Maga rhetoric with a libertarian economy and a critical attitude towards the European Union, has asked third place.
Ten other candidates are also on the ballot. With such a crowded field and the requirement that a candidate receives more than 50% of the votes to win directly, a second round seemed almost inevitable.
Vollections open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). Exit surveys are published at the end of the vote, whereby the results are expected until Tuesday, possibly on Monday.
The Polish authorities reported tests for foreign interference during the campaign, including the accompanying attacks on the attacks on parties in Tusk’s coalition on Friday and the allegations of a state research institute that political advertisements were financed on Facebook from abroad.
Although the Polish Prime Minister and Parliament have primary authority about domestic politics, the presidency has significant power. The President acts as the commander of the armed forces, plays a role in foreign and security policy and can veto legislation.
The conservative outgoing President Andrzej Duda repeatedly used this power to hinder Tusk’s agenda, for example the blocking of ambassador nominations and the use of his veto authority to oppose the reversal of the judicial and media changes that were carried out during the law and the judicial period from 2015 to the end of 2023.
A Trzaskowski victory is to be expected to end such a patient situation. He has undertaken to support reforms to courts and public media that both critics say that they have been politicized for law and justice. Tusk’s opponents say that he also politicized public media.
Nawrocki, who heads a state historical institute, has positioned itself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty.