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Polish prosecutors investigate 2020 election fraud allegations

05.06.2025 15:20
Authorities in eastern Poland have reopened an investigation into alleged ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential runoff that secured a second term for Andrzej Duda.
Polish prosecutors have reopened a probe into alleged ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential runoff, with Onet.pl reporting that forged signatures and illegal votes in the southwestern village of Mamoty Górne may have inflated turnout by nearly 20 raising questions about the narrow re-election of Andrzej Duda.
Polish prosecutors have reopened a probe into alleged ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential runoff, with Onet.pl reporting that forged signatures and illegal votes in the southwestern village of Mamoty Górne may have inflated turnout by nearly 20% raising questions about the narrow re-election of Andrzej Duda.Photo: PAP/Mateusz Marek

The district prosecutor's office in Janów Lubelski has launched a formal inquiry into allegations of forged signatures and ballot stuffing during the second round of Poland’s 2020 presidential election, local news outlet Onet.pl reported.

According to a citizen election observer, dozens of voter signatures were allegedly falsified and more than 80 additional ballots may have been illegally cast at a polling station in the village of Momoty Górne.

Local police initially declined to investigate in 2020, but the case was reopened following a change in government and renewed pressure from the complainant.

In a rare move, officers in Janów Lubelski - located in southeastern Poland - have recused themselves from the probe, citing concerns over impartiality due to their close ties with local officials involved in the election.

The investigation has since been transferred to the police department in nearby Biłgoraj, also in the southeast.

Jest podejrzenie fałszerstw w wyborach prezydenckich z 2020 r. Zaskakujący ruch policji 👇👇

Opublikowany przez Onet Czwartek, 5 czerwca 2025

Prosecutors now say the alleged irregularities may have inflated voter turnout at the polling station by nearly 20%.

The incident took place during a tightly contested runoff between incumbent Andrzej Duda, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, and centrist, pro-European challenger Rafał Trzaskowski.

Duda ultimately secured re-election by a margin of 10,440,648 votes nationwide, defeating Trzaskowski, who received 10,018,263, winning by a margin of just over  422,000 votes.

(mp)

Source: Onet.pl