Who is Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki backed by Donald Trump

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative candidate, has narrowly won Poland’s presidential election with 50.89% of the vote, edging out liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%. Nawrocki will succeed Andrzej Duda, a fellow conservative whose second and final term ends on August 6.

While most day-to-day power in Poland lies with the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, the presidency is far from ceremonial. The president holds significant influence over foreign policy and has the power to veto legislation.

Who is Karol Nawrocki?

Nawrocki, 42, is a right-wing historian and former heavyweight boxing champion. He received backing from then US President Donald Trump during the election campaign. Reports indicate that Nawrocki met with Trump in the Oval Office last month and that US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently encouraged Poles to support him to maintain strong ties with the US.

Nawrocki was chosen by the Law and Justice party as part of its effort to refresh its image. The party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, lost power last year to a centrist coalition led by Donald Tusk.


Prior to running for president, Nawrocki led the Institute of National Remembrance, an institution known for promoting nationalist historical narratives. He spearheaded efforts to remove Soviet Red Army monuments in Poland, prompting Russia to place him on a wanted list, according to Polish media.

Political Stance and Support Base

Nawrocki has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, emphasizing patriotism and Catholic principles. His supporters view him as a symbol of these values, and he has gained backing from those opposing secular trends, including LGBTQ visibility.

On foreign policy, Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine and expresses scepticism towards the European Union.

Controversies

Nawrocki's campaign was shadowed by allegations of past ties to criminal figures and involvement in violent street fights. He denies any criminal links but admits to participating in what he calls “noble” fights. These allegations did not seem to affect his support among right-wing voters, many of whom believe the accusations are politically motivated.