The election of conservative Karol Nawrocki as Poland’s new president was met with jubilation by right-wing leaders across Europe, while centrist figures throughout the EU offered cautious and reserved congratulations, underscoring concerns about Warsaw’s future direction.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a carefully worded message on the social media platform X, urging Nawrocki to “work to ensure the safety and prosperity of our common home” — the European Union.
Nawrocki, backed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), narrowly won Sunday’s runoff election, defeating centrist opponent Rafał Trzaskowski with 50.89% of the vote. His victory signals a possible return to the confrontational politics that strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels during the PiS era, particularly over issues of judicial independence and human rights.
Previously, the European Commission had suspended funding to Poland due to rule-of-law violations — a tension that began to ease only after the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk took power in 2023. However, with Nawrocki now holding the presidency — a post with veto powers — Brussels fears renewed obstruction of democratic reforms and deeper EU integration.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his hardline stance, enthusiastically celebrated Nawrocki’s victory, calling it a “fantastic win” and expressing hope for a stronger alliance among Central European governments with Eurosceptic views. With Slovakia, Hungary, and now Poland under nationalist leadership, the Visegrád Group may increasingly challenge Brussels’ authority.
French right-wing leader Jordan Bardella also welcomed the result, calling it a defeat for the EU elite.
The Polish people have spoken, and their democratic choice must be respected — even by those in Brussels who hoped for his loss, he said.
Nawrocki’s election marks a potential turning point in Poland’s political trajectory and could shift the balance of power between right-wing and pro-European forces within the EU.
