Right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki has been elected the new President of Poland, narrowly defeating liberal challenger Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw.

The final tally released by the state electoral commission (PKW) showed Nawrocki securing 50.9% of the vote to Trzaskowski’s 49.1%, reversing early exit polls and delivering a morale boost to Poland’s conservative forces.

Initial exit polls released Sunday night projected Trzaskowski as the winner with a slim 50.3% majority, prompting him to prematurely declare victory before a cheering crowd. “We won,” he told supporters, adding that the phrase “razor’s edge” would now be etched into the language of Polish politics. His wife, Małgorzata Trzaskowska, visibly emotional, remarked, “I’m close to having a heart attack.”

But as the vote count progressed into the night, Nawrocki remained cautiously optimistic. “Let’s not lose hope. We will win during the night, the difference is minimal,” he said. His prediction proved correct as official results confirmed his victory early Monday morning.

Nawrocki, a historian with strong nationalist credentials and a background leading the state Institute of National Remembrance, is expected to continue the conservative legacy of outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Duda congratulated Nawrocki, hailing his “courageous fight for Poland” and describing him as a leader with “a clear vision for our nation’s future.”

Though largely ceremonial, the Polish presidency carries key powers—including the authority to veto legislation. Nawrocki is anticipated to use that power to block Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s liberal and pro-European Union reform agenda, mirroring the approach taken by Duda during his tenure. This includes likely opposition to judicial reforms and proposed liberalizations of Poland’s strict abortion laws.

Nawrocki’s victory marks a resurgence for the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power 18 months ago. The win is expected to energize the conservative base and could shape the battlefield for the 2027 parliamentary elections, with PiS aiming to reclaim a governing majority.

Known for his staunch support of traditional Catholic values, Nawrocki has campaigned on defending Polish sovereignty within the European Union. He supports continued humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine but opposes its accession to NATO and the EU, citing concerns over regional stability amid Russia’s ongoing war.

The result not only deepens the political divide between Poland’s liberal urban centers and its more conservative rural regions but also sets the stage for ongoing institutional clashes in Warsaw. As Nawrocki prepares to take office, observers anticipate a period of intensified political standoff between the presidency and Tusk’s centrist coalition government. (ILKHA)