Warsaw’s liberal mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, has emerged as the narrow frontrunner in Poland’s presidential election, according to an exit poll released after voting closed on Sunday. However, with no candidate surpassing the 50% threshold, a second-round runoff will be held on June 1.
Trzaskowski, representing the centrist Civic Coalition (KO) and serving as deputy leader of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform (PO) party, secured 31.1% of the vote, according to the late-night poll.
His closest challenger, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, captured 29.1%, setting the stage for a highly polarized second-round showdown between liberal and right-wing visions for Poland’s future.
Final official results are expected late Monday. The first round featured 13 candidates, none of whom achieved the majority required for an outright win.
