Election Eve Polls Indicate Current Situation in Poland
Poland's Tense Presidential Runoff
Warsaw - The race for Poland's presidency is shaping up to be a nail-biting affair, according to recent polls. As per a survey by "Onet," liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski is leading with 50.1% of the votes, while conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki trails closely behind with 49.9%. A poll conducted by "Wirtualna Polska," on the other hand, suggests Nawrocki taking the lead with 50.63% to Trzaskowski's 49.37%. The election night, slated for June 1, promises an exciting outcome, with the final result remaining uncertain for some time. Polls will close at 9 PM, and initial projections will be released soon after. However, the margin of error is larger than the narrow difference between the candidates indicated in the polls, and exit polls, common in Germany, are not customary in Poland. The official results are expected on Monday.
Poland's upcoming presidential election is crucial, as the country navigates its EU and NATO membership, implications of which extend to Germany and Europe. Trzaskowski, aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, may significantly impact Tusk's reform agenda if he wins the presidency.
On May 18, 2025, the first round of the presidential election occurred, with no candidate securing an absolute majority. As a result, a runoff between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki was scheduled for June 1, 2025. Once elected, the new president will succeed the outgoing Andrzej Duda.
The Polish presidency is a powerful political office, involved in shaping reforms, judicial appointments, and legislation oversight. Unlike Germany, where the Federal President is largely a ceremonial head of state with limited executive powers, the Polish President wields significant influence, including appointing the Prime Minister, participating in foreign policy, and playing a key role in national defense.
As the June 1 election day nears, Poland's nearly 29 million eligible voters gear up to elect a successor to Duda, who serves a five-year term and, under current rules, cannot run for more than two consecutive terms. The president not only represents the country internationally but also influences foreign policy, appoints the prime minister and cabinet, and serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in times of war.
In the context of the upcoming Polish Presidential election, the race between Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki, as revealed in general-news polls, is crucial as the winner may significantly influence Poland's EU and NATO membership, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk's reform agenda. Politics aside, the Polish presidency is a powerful office, with responsibilities such as shaping reforms, appointing judicial officials, and overseeing legislation, unlike the largely ceremonial German Federal President.
