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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