Overview

• Poland holds the first round of its presidential election on May 18, with a June 1 runoff expected as no candidate is likely to secure an outright majority.
• Rafał Trzaskowski, Warsaw's liberal mayor, leads polls with 31–33%, while PiS-backed Karol Nawrocki trails by eight points.
• Authorities report increased cyberattacks and alleged foreign-funded political ads targeting candidates, raising concerns about election integrity.
• The election's outcome will determine whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government can implement reforms without presidential vetoes.
• Poland's role as a key NATO ally and EU member supporting Ukraine underscores the geopolitical stakes of this vote.