Conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki has been elected President of Poland after the second round of elections, overcoming his opponent, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who is a moderate and supportive of the European Union (EU).
According to the Polish National Election Commission, Nawrocki won 50.89% of the votes, while Trzaskowski received 49.11%. The turnout of electors reached 71.63%, the highest in recent elections in Poland.
Mr. Trzaskowski attracted strong support in big cities, while Mr. Nawrocki took the lead in rural areas and among older voters.
Mr. Nawrocki campaigned with a commitment to promoting Catholic values, strengthening national sovereignty and adjusting relations between Poland and the EU. He is currently the head of the National Monuments Institute - a state-funded research agency that investigates crimes that occurred in Poland during the German occupation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trzaskowski is a key figure in the Citizen-P Party Alliance of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Mr. Trzaskowski called for closer relations with the EU, promoting judicial reform, loosening restrictions on abortion and legalizing civil unions for gay couples.
Both candidates have pledged to increase defense spending, responding to US President Donald Trump's call for Europe to contribute more to NATO. They also support continuing to provide aid to Ukraine.
However, Mr. Trzaskowski strongly supports Ukraine's entry into NATO, considering it a vital issue for Polish security. Nawrocki has opposed the measure, warning that it could draw NATO into a confrontation with Russia.
