2025 Polish Election Results: Nawrocki Wins by Slimmest Margin

When Poles cast their ballots in the 2025 presidential election, the final verdict was tighter than anyone had predicted. Karol Nawrocki, the conservative candidate backed by the Law and Justice party (PiS), secured victory by a margin of just 369,451 votes—the smallest in modern Polish presidential history.

Election date (first round): 18 May 2025 ·
Winner: Karol Nawrocki ·
Margin of victory (second round): 369,451 votes (1.78 percentage points)

Six key facts, one pattern: the 2025 runoff was the closest presidential contest Poland has ever seen.

What were the official results of the 2025 Polish presidential election?

Total votes cast

The National Electoral Commission (PKW) reported that 10,606,877 valid votes were cast for Karol Nawrocki in the second round, while Rafał Trzaskowski received 10,237,286 votes (TASS – international news agency citing PKW totals). The runoff turnout reached 72.63%, a record for a Polish presidential runoff (TASS).

Winner and runner-up vote counts

Nawrocki’s final tally of 50.89% of valid votes gave him a narrow lead over Trzaskowski’s 49.11% (PAP – Polish Press Agency). The difference of 369,451 votes is the smallest absolute margin in any Polish presidential runoff since 1990.

Percentage distribution

The official percentages, as published by PKW and reported by multiple outlets, show a split of 50.89% to 49.11% (PAP). The margin of 1.78 percentage points is the narrowest ever recorded in a Polish presidential election.

The implication: Poland’s political landscape is now more polarized than at any point since the fall of communism, and the new president will have to govern with a mandate that is statistically within the margin of error of a tie.

Who won the 2025 Polish presidential election?

Karol Nawrocki: biography and political affiliation

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative candidate supported by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, won the presidency after a campaign that emphasized national sovereignty and traditional values (Reuters – global news agency). He is a former head of the Institute of National Remembrance and a historian by training. The Associated Press noted that Nawrocki also received backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump (Associated Press – leading international news wire).

Runner-up candidate and vote difference

Rafał Trzaskowski, the incumbent mayor of Warsaw and candidate of the Civic Coalition, finished second with 49.11% of the vote. The gap between the two men was just 369,451 votes, a margin that stunned both camps (PAP). The first round on 18 May 2025 had placed Trzaskowski ahead with 31.4% to Nawrocki’s 29.5%, but the runoff saw a decisive shift in voter momentum (Reuters).

The catch: For Trzaskowski, losing by such a tiny fraction means the Civic Coalition will have to decide whether to moderate its platform or double down on its urban, liberal base.

What was the voter turnout in the 2025 election?

First round turnout

Turnout data for the first round was not explicitly provided in the official PKW summary used by most news outlets. However, the first round on 18 May 2025 saw a competitive race that forced a runoff (Reuters).

Second round turnout

The runoff on 1 June 2025 recorded a turnout of 72.63%, the highest ever for a Polish presidential runoff (TASS – international news agency). This surge in participation likely played a role in the narrow outcome.

Comparison with previous elections

In 2020, the runoff between Andrzej Duda and Rafał Trzaskowski drew a turnout of 68.18%. The 2025 figure of 72.63% represents a clear increase, suggesting that the stakes of the election mobilized voters who had stayed home in previous cycles.

The pattern: Higher turnout tends to benefit challengers, but in this case, it was the PiS-backed candidate who managed to eke out a win—a sign that Nawrocki’s campaign successfully turned out first-time voters in rural and conservative areas.

How did the second round of the election play out?

Date of second round

The second round was held on 1 June 2025, two weeks after the first round on 18 May (Reuters). Under Polish law, a runoff is required when no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the first round.

Key events on election day

Election day proceeded without major incidents, but the atmosphere was tense. Both candidates’ campaigns had framed the contest as a choice between two visions of Poland’s future. By the evening, exit polls showed a statistical dead heat, and the final tally was not confirmed until the next day.

Announcement of results

On 2 June 2025, PKW Chair Sylwester Marciniak held a press conference to announce that Karol Nawrocki had been elected president (Polsat News – Polish broadcaster). The commission confirmed that 100% of precincts had been counted, and the result was final (TVN24 – Polish news channel).

What are the next steps after the election results?

Confirmation by the National Electoral Commission

The PKW officially certified the results on 2 June 2025, clearing the way for the transition process (Polsat News). Any challenges to the election must be filed with the Supreme Court within a specific timeframe.

Swearing-in ceremony

The president-elect will be sworn in before the National Assembly. The exact date has not been announced, but the constitution requires the ceremony to take place within a few weeks of the official confirmation. Nawrocki will then assume the full powers of the presidency, including the ability to veto legislation and command the armed forces.

Transition of power

Outgoing President Andrzej Duda will hand over the office to Nawrocki. The transition is expected to be smooth, given that both are from the same political camp. For Prime Minister Donald Tusk, however, Nawrocki’s victory could complicate his reform agenda, as the new president may block key government initiatives (Reuters).

The trade-off: Tusk’s government will need to negotiate with a president who owes his victory to a deeply polarized electorate, or risk a series of vetoes that could stall legislation.

For Polish voters, the 2025 election result is a vivid reminder that democracy can turn on a knife’s edge. For the government led by Donald Tusk, the choice is clear: find common ground with a president who won by a whisker, or face a legislative gridlock that could define the remainder of the term.