Who is Karol Nawrocki? Conservative historian becomes Poland’s next president
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Man with no prior political experience wins Poland’s presidential election
- Conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, 42, won Poland's presidential election, securing 50.89 per cent of the vote.
- Mr Nawrocki, who had no political experience prior to the campaign but was backed by the Law and Justice party, cultivated a tough-guy image during his campaign, contrasting with his liberal opponent Rafal Trzaskowski, who emphasised his European ties.
- While supporting military aid to Ukraine, Mr Nawrocki opposes its membership in Western alliances, aligning with some Polish sentiments amid concerns over Ukrainian refugees.
- Mr Nawrocki's campaign focused on traditional, patriotic values, support for gun ownership, and a critical stance on Ukraine, appealing to voters who had previously supported the far-right.
- His victory is likely to result in continued obstruction of the pro-EU government's efforts to reverse judicial reforms, mirroring the actions of outgoing President Andrzej Duda.