Poland’s right-wing candidate, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki narrowly won the second round of presidential election on Sunday, the state electoral commission (PKW) said Monday.
With all voted counted, Nawrocki won 50.9% percent of the votes winning a narrow victory over Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski on 49.1% percent. The result was a dramatic shift from an initial exit poll on Sunday, according to which Trzaskowski was ahead with 50.3 percent of votes compared to 49.7 percent for Nawrocki.
Trzaskowski had claimed victory after the results of exit poll were released at around 9 PM. "We won, although the phrase 'razor's edge' will forever enter the Polish language and politics," Trzaskowski told his supporters. However, despite uncertainty, Nawrocki 42, said the results were too close to call and insisted he would win. "Let's not lose hope for this night. We will win during the night, the difference is minimal. I believe that we will wake up tomorrow with President Karol Nawrocki."
Backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party and Donald Trump’s administration, Nawrocki is seeks to pull Poland away from European mainstream. Both candidates support military aid for neighbouring Ukraine, however differ in their approach to the EU.
