Poland Faces Pivotal Presidential Choice amid EU Tensions

Sunday 01 June 2025 - 08:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Poland Faces Pivotal Presidential Choice amid EU Tensions

Poland is holding a crucial presidential run-off election that could significantly shape its future relationship with the European Union.

Voting began at 7 a.m. local time, with Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a pro-EU candidate from the center-right Civic Platform within the Civic Coalition, competing against conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

This run-off follows a close first round on May 18, where Trzaskowski led with just over 31% of the vote and Nawrocki followed closely with nearly 30%, knocking out 11 other candidates.

The victor will replace outgoing president Andrzej Duda, a nationalist backed by PiS, who frequently clashed with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist government by vetoing reforms, particularly those affecting the judiciary.

The campaign has underscored deep ideological divisions. Trzaskowski, 53, pledges to restore judicial independence, ease abortion laws, and rebuild constructive ties with the EU. Nawrocki, 42, a former boxer endorsed by Donald Trump, promotes traditional values and is skeptical of EU integration.

Despite tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine, both candidates support aid to Kyiv. However, they diverge on Ukraine’s NATO membership—Trzaskowski supports it, while Nawrocki opposes both NATO and EU accession for Ukraine.

Both candidates have adopted hardline stances on immigration, using anti-Ukrainian rhetoric as Poland manages a large population of Ukrainian refugees. Trzaskowski proposes limiting child benefits to working Ukrainians, while Nawrocki advocates broader restrictions and outright opposes Ukraine’s Western integration.

Voting ends at 9 p.m. local time, with exit polls expected shortly after. Final results are anticipated on Monday.