Karol Nawrocki’s narrow presidential election victory in Poland drew strong reactions from international media, many of which framed the outcome as a major setback for centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his pro-European reform agenda.
'Huge blow' to PM Tusk's pro-EU agenda
Britain’s The Guardian reported: “Orbán and Le Pen cheer Karol Nawrocki’s election as Polish president.”
The British daily wrote that “far-right leaders in Europe have welcomed the victory of the nationalist opposition candidate, Karol Nawrocki, in Poland’s presidential elections, a result that deals a huge blow to the centre-right prime minister Donald Tusk’s reform and pro-EU agenda.”
in an upset victory for europe’s populist right, opposition candidate karol nawrocki of poland’s law and justice party...
Opublikowany przez Iana Bremmera Poniedziałek, 2 czerwca 2025
'Political uncertainty'
The Financial Times headlined its coverage: “Pro-Trump nationalist Nawrocki wins Poland’s crucial presidential election.”
The business-focused daily described Poland’s next president as “the Donald-Trump-backed former football hooligan standing for the nationalist opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party,” adding that he was elected “in a tight race that pitches the country into political uncertainty.”
Spain’s El País highlighted Nawrocki’s “minimal victory,” arguing that the results “open the door for a potential return to power by Law and Justice and undermine Donald Tusk’s leadership.”
Meanwhile, conservative newspaper El Mundo described the outcome as “a blow to the pro-European government," noting that the close result reflects “deep polarization within Polish society.”
Another Spanish outlet, 20 Minutos, underscored that Poland had elected “a eurosceptic supported by Donald Trump.”
In the Czech Republic, the weekly Respekt pointed to “a rightward shift and deepening political deadlock between the government and the presidential palace.”
Germany’s public broadcaster ARD reported that the “victory of the 42-year-old Eurosceptic suggests changes in both Poland’s foreign and domestic policies,” noting the country’s strategic importance within the EU and NATO.
The daily Die Welt called the result “a difficult situation” for Germany.
France’s Le Figaro described the Polish election as “a brutal emotional rollercoaster for centrists.”
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Source: The Guardian/Financial Times/El Pais/El Mundo/Respekt/ARD/IAR/PAP/Le Figaro