An Ipsos exit poll for TVP, Polsat and TVN gave the Confederation party leader 15.4 percent, behind Trzaskowski’s 30.8 percent and Nawrocki’s 29.1 percent. A separate survey by Ogólnopolska Grupa Badawcza put Mentzen’s share at 14 percent.
“Knowing our pollsters, figures can still change,” Mentzen told supporters at his Warsaw headquarters, adding that the second-round outcome “is uncertain.”
He said he would “help our voters decide” whom to back in the runoff “soon, but not tonight.”
The Ipsos poll put far-right figure Grzegorz Braun fourth, with 6.2 percent, and left-wing opposition lawmaker Adrian Zandberg, with 5.2 percent.
Mentzen, 37, campaigned on deep tax cuts, strict immigration curbs and opposition to further European Union integration. Analysts say his predominantly young, urban electorate could prove pivotal in a tight second round.
Official first-round results are expected by Tuesday. Turnout was estimated at 66.8 percent, the highest since 1995.
(jh)
Source: Polskie Radio 24, RMF24