Conservative Historian Wins Poland’s Presidential Runoff

Karol Nawrocki’s support for a more nationalist approach to governance may prove challenging for Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), and his wife Marta arrive to greet supporters following the Polish presidential runoff election in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Conservative historian Karol Nawrocki has been officially declared the winner of Poland’s presidential runoff election after the state electoral commission finalized the tally early on June 2.

Nawrocki, who was approached to run by Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice Party, won 50.89 percent of the vote in a tight race against Warsaw mayor and Pro-EU candidate Rafal Trzaskowski, who won 49.11 percent support—separated by a margin of 369,591 votes.