Conservative historian Karol Nawrocki has been elected Poland’s new president, securing a narrow victory over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a tightly contested runoff election on Sunday. With all votes counted, Nawrocki won 50.9% (or 50.89%) of the votes, while Trzaskowski received 49.1% (or 49.11%).

The result marks a significant turnaround from initial exit polls, which had favored Trzaskowski. The win is a considerable boost for the national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) opposition, which backed Nawrocki and lost power 18 months ago, and is seen as a blow to the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Nawrocki’s victory is expected to complicate Tusk’s pro-European Union agenda, as the president in Poland holds significant veto power over legislation. The ruling coalition lacks the three-fifths parliamentary majority needed to overturn a presidential veto. Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, also a conservative, has frequently used his veto powers to block key reforms championed by Tusk, including those related to judicial independence and abortion laws.

Following the election results, Prime Minister Tusk announced he would call a vote of confidence in his government in parliament in the near future. While this move is largely seen as political theatre, likely to succeed given his party’s simple majority in the Sejm (lower house), it underscores the challenges his administration faces. Tusk stated he understands “the gravity of the moment” and does not intend to “take a step back,” expressing readiness to work with Nawrocki if cooperation is possible.

Nawrocki, 42, a former head of the Institute of National Remembrance, supports traditional Catholic and family values and advocates for strong Polish sovereignty within the EU, opposing the bloc’s climate and migration policies. He supports continued assistance for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia but has expressed reservations about Ukraine joining NATO and the EU during the ongoing aggression. His campaign was boosted by an endorsement from President Donald Trump, with whom he met in Washington during the election campaign.

The campaign saw questions raised about Nawrocki’s property holdings and a past scandal involving the acquisition of a second apartment from a pensioner, which he pledged to donate to charity. Despite these controversies, his “strongman” image and nationalist themes resonated with a significant portion of the electorate, particularly in rural areas.

Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. Trzaskowski conceded defeat, congratulating Nawrocki and expressing regret at not convincing a majority of citizens of his vision for Poland. International reactions included congratulations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered more measured remarks, emphasizing cooperation.