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3d ago

Polish Presidential Candidates Lead Rival Marches Ahead of Tight Runoff

Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki rally tens of thousands in Warsaw, with polls showing a dead heat before the June 1 election.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is shown on screen as he speaks on the day of the "Patriotic March" organised by the ruling party, ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland, May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate supported by the main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), attends a march with his supporters ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland May 25, 2025. Agencja Wyborcza.pl/Robert Kowalewski via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Supporters attend a march organised by Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate supported by the main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), ahead of the second round of presidential elections, in Warsaw, Poland May 25, 2025. REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala

Overview

  • Rafał Trzaskowski, backed by the pro-European Civic Coalition, and Karol Nawrocki, supported by the nationalist Law and Justice party, led competing marches in Warsaw on May 25, 2025.
  • The election will determine Poland's future direction, including its relations with the European Union and Ukraine, as well as the fate of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's democratic reform agenda.
  • Recent polls indicate the candidates are tied at 47%, with both campaigns focusing on mobilizing their bases and courting far-right voters who supported Sławomir Mentzen in the first round.
  • Trzaskowski advocates for closer EU ties, progressive social policies, and judicial reforms, while Nawrocki emphasizes nationalism, traditional values, and skepticism toward Ukraine's NATO aspirations.
  • Approximately 140,000 people joined Trzaskowski's march, while Nawrocki's rally drew around 50,000, reflecting the high stakes and polarization surrounding the June 1 runoff.