Poland's new president causing friction with the government: a persistent irritant
Karol Nawrocki, a historian and amateur boxer, has been sworn in as the seventh president of Poland, marking a shift in the country's political landscape. Nawrocki, endorsed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), won the presidency narrowly in June 2025 with about 50.89% of the vote.
Nawrocki's presidency is expected to continue the deadlock seen under nationalist outgoing president, Andrzej Duda. However, his rise to the presidency has been marked by several controversies, including allegations of involvement with gangsters, a questionable property deal, and a past linked to football hooliganism.
Despite these controversies, Nawrocki gained immunity upon taking office, protecting him from prosecution regarding these allegations. Politically, his presidency has been associated with a strong nationalist, Catholic conservative stance favored by his electorate but criticized for intensifying political polarization in Poland.
Nawrocki's election dealt a blow to prime minister Donald Tusk's hopes to undo the PiS's legacy of attacks on judicial independence and improve Poland's relationship with fellow EU member states and Ukraine. The presidency in Poland is not as omnipotent as that of Donald Trump, but Nawrocki's powers of veto and policy prerogatives make him a major thorn in the side of Poland's centrist Europhile government.
At his inauguration, Nawrocki warned that he is ready to block appointments of judges he does not see as fit to perform their roles. He also shouted the Maga-like phrase "May God bless Poland, long live Poland." These statements have raised concerns about potential conflicts between Nawrocki and the government.
Nawrocki is a political newcomer with little public recognition before being backed by PiS. He intends to create a council dedicated to repairing Poland's constitutional order. The road ahead in Poland's politics is likely to be bumpy due to the controversies surrounding Nawrocki.
[1] "Karol Nawrocki." Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karol-Nawrocki [2] "Controversial President Karol Nawrocki Takes Office in Poland." The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/controversial-president-karol-nawrocki-takes-office-in-poland [3] "New Polish President Karol Nawrocki: Controversial Figure, Controversial Presidency." The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/new-polish-president-karol-nawrocki-controversial-figure-controversial-presidency/2025/jun/30/58b7139a-1937-4a05-818d-2f779a26a3e6/ [4] "Poland's Karol Nawrocki Wins Presidential Election." BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57704988
[1] The recently inaugurated President Karol Nawrocki, a controversy-ridden figure, is expected to continue the nationalist trajectory of Poland's political landscape, as reported by various general news outlets.
[2] Despite the concerns surrounding his presidency due to allegations of gangster involvement, questionable deals, and links to football hooliganism, Nawrocki's political stance and immunity from prosecution could intensify political polarization in Poland according to political analysts.
