Introduction

Poland’s political landscape took a sharp turn on June 2, 2025, when Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing nationalist historian backed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, narrowly defeated the government-backed candidate Rafał Trzaskowski in the presidential election. Nawrocki’s win, with 50.9% of the vote against Trzaskowski’s 49.1%, ended hopes for Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his centrist Civic Platform party to consolidate political control ahead of parliamentary elections.

Poland’s Political Turmoil After 2025 Presidential Election
Poland’s Political Turmoil After 2025 Election


Backstory: A Tight Race That Shook Poland

The election was one of the closest in Poland’s modern history. Tusk’s coalition had placed its hopes on retaining the presidency to push through reforms and strengthen its legislative agenda. Trzaskowski, a pro-European liberal, campaigned on strengthening ties with the European Union and defending democratic institutions. Nawrocki, however, appealed to nationalist voters with promises to protect “traditional Polish values” and limit what he called “excessive EU interference.”

Despite international observers confirming the vote’s fairness, Tusk’s allies expressed doubts about the outcome and hinted at possible legal challenges, even mentioning the European Court of Human Rights.


Government Struggles After the Defeat

The loss has left Tusk’s government in a weakened state, forcing them into political defense mode. Their key challenges now include:

  1. Electoral Defeat Impact – Without the presidency, passing reforms will be harder due to potential vetoes from Nawrocki.

  2. Public Confidence – The narrow loss has shaken support among Civic Platform voters, some of whom question the party’s strategy.

  3. EU Funds Misuse Allegations – Reports of possible misuse of European Union development funds have fueled opposition criticism and further eroded trust.


International Reaction

Several countries and leaders have commented on Poland’s election outcome:

  1. Germany’s Chancellor Annalena Baerbock congratulated Nawrocki, stressing the importance of “continuing Poland’s role as a strong EU partner.”
  2. France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged “dialogue between Poland’s political forces to preserve democratic stability.”
  3. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close PiS ally, celebrated the win as “a victory for sovereignty and tradition in Central Europe.”
  4. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reminded Poland of its “responsibility to uphold the rule of law and EU commitments.”


What’s Next for Poland?

The next few months will be critical. Tusk’s government will need to:

        Rebuild public trust by addressing the EU funds controversy transparently.

        Prepare for parliamentary elections, where losing could hand full control to PiS.

        Decide whether to continue contesting the election result or focus on governance.

The political climate remains highly polarized, with rallies and debates expected to intensify across the country.


FAQ's

1. Who won Poland’s 2025 presidential election?
Karol Nawrocki, supported by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, won with 50.9% of the vote, defeating Rafał Trzaskowski of the Civic Platform, who got 49.1%.

2. Why was the election result significant?
It was a very close race and shifted power toward the nationalist PiS, weakening Donald Tusk’s centrist government ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

3. What are the EU funds misuse allegations about?
The Tusk administration is facing accusations of mismanaging European Union development funds, though investigations are ongoing.

4. How have world leaders reacted?
EU leaders called for stability, while nationalist allies in Europe celebrated Nawrocki’s win as a pushback against Brussels’ influence.

5. What could happen next in Poland’s politics?
The government may struggle to pass reforms, face stronger opposition, and could lose further ground in upcoming parliamentary elections.