Karol Nawrocki is set to become Poland’s next president following a closely contested election runoff against liberal candidate Rafał Trzaskowski. Nawrocki, who has pledged to oppose Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist, pro-European Union agenda, brings a conservative platform to the office.
Hailing from Gdańsk, Nawrocki holds a degree in history from the University of Gdańsk (2008), a PhD (2013), and an international MBA from the Gdańsk University of Technology (2023). His career includes leadership roles at the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), an organization responsible for investigating and prosecuting Nazi and communist crimes from 1917 to 1990. He began working at IPN in 2009, led the World War II Museum in Gdańsk during a four-year break, and returned to IPN as president in 2021.
During his time at IPN, Nawrocki passed the vetting procedure of the Internal Security Agency (ABW). Media reports noted that ABW agents initially gave him a negative recommendation, but this was overruled by the agency’s then-chief, a Law and Justice (PiS) appointee. PiS maintained the clearance was valid.
In 2024, Nawrocki was placed on a list of Polish nationals wanted by the Russian Interior Ministry following his involvement in the 2022 dismantling of the Red Army Gratitude Monument in Glubczyce.
Nawrocki, supported by the PiS party, is described as having conservative and right-wing views. He opposed compulsory vaccinations for adults and children, and has stated his opposition to Ukraine joining NATO and the European Union until unresolved bilateral issues are addressed.
His election platform included pledges not to raise taxes, a reduction in VAT, zero income tax relief for families with at least two children, tax-free inheritance, and abolition of the Belka tax. Nawrocki supports nuclear energy, but insists that coal mining should continue until Poland has its own nuclear power plant. At a rally in Pajęczno in March, he stated: “I say a clear no to this. Until Poland achieves nuclear energy, Polish coal should be mined, fed into, and develop the Republic of Poland. Hands off Polish coal until we get to the atom.” He added, “By rejecting green ideology, green taxes, and the EU ETS, and through the extraction of Polish coal, we will finally start paying normal electricity prices.”
On defense, Nawrocki advocated for voluntary conscription, saying Poland is not in a situation that requires forced conscription. “I will be the president of a safe Poland in which conscription should be voluntary. It is necessary to build a strong, modern Polish army, at least 300,000 strong, with strong alliances, but it must remain voluntary, which is fundamental for me as well,” he said. At the same event, he reiterated his aim for “at least a 300,000-strong Polish army and a million reservists.”
On 22 May, Nawrocki signed a programme declaration with Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the far-right Confederation party, consisting of eight demands. Nawrocki also declared he would not sign laws restricting freedom of expression or access to weapons.
This election marks a turning point for Poland and an obstacle for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose domestic reforms reforms are now challenged as liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski failed to secure the presidency. Uncertainty looms as Poland risks to lose billions of euros of EU funds and stray further from centrist European politics.
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