KAROL NAWROCKI wins Poland’s presidential election after knife-edge vote



Monday, June 2, 2025 - Karol Nawrocki has been elected President of Poland after securing a narrow victory with 50.89% of the vote, marking a dramatic rise for the right-wing historian whose controversial past has dominated headlines in recent weeks.

Nawrocki, backed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, was relatively unknown six months ago but quickly gained national attention by projecting a tough, streetwise image. His campaign featured videos of him boxing and at shooting ranges, and he embraced his background as an amateur boxer and former football hooligan.

The campaign faced multiple controversies, including allegations that Nawrocki had ties to the criminal underworld and that he had hired prostitutes to pose as guests at a luxury hotel. His team later confirmed that he had participated in a violent brawl between rival football hooligans in 2009. Nawrocki, known for his loyalty to Chelsea FC and Polish club Lechia Gdańsk, dismissed the incident as “noble combat.”

“All my sports activities were based on the strength of my heart, the strength of my muscles, my fists. It was a fair competition, regardless of the form,” Nawrocki said during a televised debate. He did not express regret, a stance that raised concerns among supporters worried the revelation could derail his campaign.

Further controversy emerged when images surfaced of Nawrocki alongside Patryk Masiak, a Lechia supporter and convicted criminal facing additional charges including pimping and organized crime. Nawrocki did not deny their association.

Investigations by local media outlet Onet accused Nawrocki of leading a double life and acting as a pimp while employed as a hotel security guard. He denied the claims and announced plans to sue Onet, although he opted for a standard libel case rather than a swift electoral procedure.

Another scandal involved Nawrocki allegedly acquiring a flat from a disabled elderly man in exchange for lifelong care. The man was later found living in a state-run facility without Nawrocki’s support. The president-elect has since offered to donate the flat to charity.

Despite the controversies, Nawrocki maintained strong support from nationalist voters. His stance on Ukraine was notably mixed, he supported military aid against Russia but opposed Ukraine’s membership in Western alliances like the EU and NATO, aligning with growing domestic skepticism toward Ukrainian refugees.

During the campaign, Nawrocki met with former U.S. President Donald Trump and received his endorsement, while his opponent, liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski, emphasized pro-European values.

Nawrocki positioned the election as a referendum on what he called the “metropolitan elite,” presenting himself as a man of the people. “I am simply one of you,” he told voters in Biała Podlaska.

His slogan, Poland First, resonated with supporters concerned about migration, economic hardship, and national identity. “Let’s help others, but let’s take care of our own citizens first,” he posted on social media in April.

Critics argue his campaign rhetoric and associations stoke division at a time of heightened political tension in Poland. However, his victory signals a continued appetite among parts of the electorate for populist and nationalist leadership.

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