Poland Heads to Polls in Tight Election That Could Shape EU Ties

Warsaw (Eurotoday) – Voting began in Poland on Sunday in a highly competitive presidential election that could reshape the nation’s political trajectory. The main contenders are pro-European Union Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki.

This election holds significant implications for Poland’s future stance on issues including abortion rights, LGBTQ protections, and its relationship with the European Union. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0500GMT) and are scheduled to close at 9 p.m. (1900GMT). Exit poll data will become available only after voting ends, with official results expected late Monday or Tuesday.

The presidential race is led by Karol Nawrocki, backed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, and Rafał Trzaskowski, supported by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition. A runoff between the two candidates is expected on June 1, with Trzaskowski currently leading in the polls with about 30% support and Nawrocki close behind in the mid-20s.

Will Trzaskowski shift Poland’s stance on EU integration?

According to a Reuters report, while Nawrocki campaigns on conservative values and national sovereignty, Trzaskowski has pledged to advocate for LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedoms.

He has also vowed to enhance Poland’s role in EU policymaking and to work with the government to reverse controversial judicial reforms enacted during PiS’s rule.

Other presidential hopefuls include Slawomir Mentzen of the far-right Confederation party, Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Poland 2050 party, and Magdalena Biejat representing the Left.

Could the presidential veto block Tusk’s policy changes?

Despite limited executive power, the Polish president holds the authority to veto legislation—a power that outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, has used to hinder Prime Minister Tusk’s efforts to reverse the PiS-backed court system changes that critics argue threaten democratic norms.

Is a runoff between top candidates inevitable on June 1?

The election unfolds amid an ongoing standoff between Prime Minister Tusk and President Duda, who has repeatedly blocked the prime minister’s reform agenda. If Nawrocki is elected, analysts suggest the political friction could persist, whereas a Trzaskowski victory may break the deadlock and clear a path for legislative changes.

Far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, known for his anti-immigration and eurosceptic views, could play a crucial role in a potential second-round vote. Other notable contenders include the Left’s Magdalena Biejat and Szymon Holownia, head of the centrist Poland 2050 party and current speaker of parliament.