Voting begins in decisive presidential runoff in Poland

Published connected 01/06/2025 - 11:20 GMT+2•Updated 15:07

Voting has begun successful Poland to elite a caller president. The title pits Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a wide pro-EU figure, against Karol Nawrocki, a blimpish historiographer backed by nan right-wing Law and Justice party.

Both candidates posted pictures of them voting connected societal media.

With blimpish President Andrzej Duda completing his 2nd and last term, nan caller president will beryllium a important facet successful whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist authorities tin fulfil its centrist agenda, fixed nan statesmanlike powerfulness to veto laws.

Voting began astatine 7 americium section clip and will extremity astatine 9 pm, erstwhile an Ipsos exit canvass is expected. Final results are apt to beryllium announced Monday. The runoff follows a tightly contested first information connected 18 May, successful which Trzaskowski won conscionable complete 31% and Nawrocki astir 30%, eliminating 11 different candidates.

The run has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to reconstruct judicial independence, easiness abortion restrictions, and beforehand constructive ties pinch European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself arsenic a defender of accepted Polish values, sceptical of nan EU, and aligned pinch US conservatives, including President Donald Trump.

Nawrocki’s candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and information successful a convulsive thoroughfare battle. He denies nan criminal links but acknowledges having taken portion successful “noble” fights. The revelations person not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, galore of whom spot nan allegations arsenic politically motivated.

Amid rising information fears complete Russia’s warfare successful neighbouring Ukraine, some candidates support assistance to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO rank for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it successful nan future.

Nawrocki's run has echoed themes celebrated connected nan American right, including an accent connected accepted values. His supporters consciousness that Trzaskowski, pinch his pro-EU views, would manus complete power of cardinal Polish affairs to larger European powers for illustration France and Germany.