Poland votes for new president amid mounting security concerns

Warsaw: Polish citizens are casting their votes on Sunday in a pivotal presidential election set against the backdrop of heightened security concerns due to the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine and increasing anxiety over the United States' commitment to European security under President Donald Trump.

The presidential race is led by two prominent contenders: Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a liberal figure aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian without previous political experience backed by the national conservative Law and Justice party. Recent opinion polls suggest Trzaskowski holds approximately 30 percent support, while Nawrocki trails in the mid-20s, making a runoff between the two on June 1 highly likely.

The outcome of the election is also expected to indicate the strength of other political forces, particularly the far right. Slawomir Mentzen, a hard-right candidate blending populist “Make America Great Again” rhetoric with libertarian economics and a strong critique of the European Union, is currently polling in third place.

A total of 13 candidates are contesting the presidency. Given the crowded field and the requirement that a candidate must secure over 50 percent of the vote to win outright, a second-round vote is considered almost certain.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). Exit polls are scheduled for release when voting ends, with official results expected by Tuesday, possibly as early as Monday.

In the lead-up to the vote, authorities have reported attempts at foreign interference. These include denial-of-service attacks that targeted parties within Tusk’s governing coalition on Friday and allegations from a state research institute suggesting that some political advertisements on Facebook were financed from abroad.

While Poland’s prime minister and parliament exercise primary authority over domestic affairs, the presidency remains a powerful position. The president serves as commander of the armed forces and holds influence over foreign and security policy, with the authority to veto legislation.

Outgoing conservative President Andrzej Duda has frequently exercised that power over the past year to obstruct Prime Minister Tusk’s agenda. His interventions have included blocking ambassadorial appointments and vetoing key legislation aimed at undoing judicial and media reforms introduced during Law and Justice’s tenure from 2015 until late 2023.

A win for Trzaskowski would likely end the political deadlock. He has pledged to support democratic reforms, particularly targeting the judiciary and public media, which critics argue were politicised under the previous administration.

Nawrocki, who heads a state historical institute, has positioned himself as a staunch advocate for conservative values and Polish national sovereignty.

With PTI inputs