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Poland's pro-European course at stake in Sunday’s presidential run-off

29.05.2025 19:00
Poland braces up for a presidential election run-off this Sunday, a vote widely seen as crucial for the country's pro-European course and relations with neighbouring Ukraine.
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Who will become Polands next presidential couple? Małgorzata and Rafał Trzaskowski (on the left), representing the pro-European centrist Civic Coalition. Karol and Marta Nawrocki (on the right), backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Who will become Poland's next presidential couple? Małgorzata and Rafał Trzaskowski (on the left), representing the pro-European centrist Civic Coalition. Karol and Marta Nawrocki (on the right), backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party.Photo: PAP/Tomasz Wojtasik, Jarek Praszkiewicz

Poles will vote in a closely contested race that pits the centrist, pro-European ruling party's candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski against nationalist challenger Karol Nawrocki who draws inspiration from U.S. President Donald Trump and is backed by the main opposition Law and Justice party.

The rivals are neck-and-neck in opinion polls.

The runoff setting reflects the duopoly of centrists and nationalists that has dominated Polish politics for two decades.

The election takes place against a backdrop of rising anti-establishment sentiment in Poland, with the far-right achieving their strongest ever showing.

In Poland, the job of president is largely ceremonial, but comes with crucial veto power.

A Trzaskowski victory would give the government a major boost, while a Nawrocki win would reinforce its difficult cohabitation with the president.

Click on the player icon above for an audio report by Michał Owczarek.