Poland vote: Pro-EU Trzaskowski wins first round
Published May 18, 2025last updated May 19, 2025
What you need to know
- Poles voted on Sunday to elect a new president
- The top two front-runners in the presidential election are Rafal Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki
- After Trzaskowski narrowly won round one, a runoff is scheduled for June 1
- Trzaskowski has pledged to support abortion rights and LGBTQ+ protections. Nawrocki presents himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty
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Official results show narrow win for pro-EU candidate Trzaskowski
Warsaw's pro-EU mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly came out on top in the first round of voting in Poland's presidential election.
With all ballots counted, Trzaskowski won 31.36% of the vote. His main opponent, national-conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki, came in at 29.54%, the national election commission said Monday.
With less than 2 percentage points separating the frontrunners, a runoff vote is set for June 1.
A key factor for round two could be voters who supported far-right candidates that were eliminated in the first round.
The two far-right candidates had a strong showing, receiving a combined 21.15%.
Trzaskowski is from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist Civic Coalition, and a win would allow Tusk more space to push his EU-friendly reform agenda that has been held up by the current nationalist president.
The opposition, the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) of current President Andrzej Duda, is backing Nawrocki.
Pro-EU centrist Trzaskowski narrowly ahead — exit polls
Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski was narrowly ahead in the first round of Poland's presidential election, an exit poll showed.
Trzaskowski, from the ruling Civic Coalition (KO), got 30.8% of the vote, according to the exit poll.
Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), got 29.1% of votes, according to the vote.
Runoff elections are scheduled for June 1.
Polls close in Poland presidential vote
Polls have closed in Poland's high-stakes presidential election, with exit polls expected shortly.
DW asks voters in Warsaw what they are hoping for
Solid turnout among eligible voters
The presidential election saw a turnout rate of over 20% of eligible voters by midday, the Polish electoral commission has said.
Despite being four percentage points lower than the same time during the last presidential election in 2020, it is six percentage points higher than in 2015.
Poland has about 28.3 million eligible voters.
Tusk government anxious ahead of Poland's presidential vote
Sunday’s voting in Poland is not just about whether Rafal Trzaskowski, of the center-right Civic Platform, or the national-conservative Karol Nawrocki, the two front-runners, will become Poland's next president.
The outcome of the presidential election will determine whether the pro-EU center-right government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk can take forward its plans, which have been stymied by President Andrzej Duda since the government was elected about 18 months ago.
Read more here: Tusk government anxious ahead of Poland's presidential vote
Poles vote in pivotal presidential election
Voting began in Poland on Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election that will shape the country's political future and decide its stance on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and relations with the European Union.
The polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 UTC) and close at 9 p.m. (1900 UTC), with exit poll results available after the voting has ended.
Results are expected to be in by Monday or Tuesday.
The front-runners are pro-EU Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist Civic Coalition, and nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, supported by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Polls show Trzaskowski leading with around 30% support, followed by Nawrocki in the mid-20s, making a June 1 runoff between the two likely.
Trzaskowski has pledged to support abortion rights and LGBTQ protections, while Nawrocki presents himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty.
US President Donald Trump recently met Nawrocki in the White House showing his support.
The polls come amid a tussle between the Polish prime minister and the outgoing, conservative President Andrzej Duda, who has vetoed many of the Tusk government's attempts at policy reform.
A Trzaskowski win would likely ease that gridlock, while a Nawrocki presidency could stall the coalition's agenda.
There is also a chance that far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, campaigning on anti-immigration, anti-EU rhetoric, could play the kingmaker in the second round.
The other candidates in the fray are Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Poland 2050 and Magdalena Biejat from the Left.
Welcome to our coverage
Voting began in Poland on Sunday in a tight presidential election that will shape the country's political future.
The front-runners are pro-EU Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki.
DW will bring you the latest news, analysis and insights from our reporters and correspondents regarding the presidential election in Poland. Stay tuned for more.