Poland’s two largest political parties have unveiled their candidates for the upcoming presidential election, set to determine the successor to incumbent President Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term ends in August 2025.
The conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party has nominated Karol Nawrocki, a 41-year-old historian and current head of the Institute of National Remembrance. Nawrocki, known for his work documenting Poland’s World War II and communist-era history, also previously directed the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, his hometown.
“I am ready to become your president. I have spent my life alongside you, understanding the needs of Poles. Poland must be great to endure, and I want to defend it,” Nawrocki declared to supporters during an event in Krakow.
The decision to field Nawrocki marks a strategic shift for PiS, bypassing high-profile figures like former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in favor of a less politically entrenched candidate. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński emphasized this in his remarks, saying, “We have chosen a non-partisan, independent candidate who many of our top activists had not worked with closely.”
This approach mirrors PiS’s strategy from a decade ago, when it selected Andrzej Duda, then a relatively unknown figure, to run for president. Analysts suggest this move may help PiS distance itself from scandals tied to its eight years in government, particularly as the party faces scrutiny over campaign funding violations in the 2023 parliamentary elections.
Nawrocki aligns closely with the party’s platform, embracing pro-Christian, pro-NATO, and patriotic values. His acceptance speech also reflected PiS’s favorable stance toward U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) party has chosen Rafał Trzaskowski, the progressive mayor of Warsaw, as its candidate. Trzaskowski is expected to be Nawrocki’s main rival, setting the stage for a polarized contest.
Although smaller parties are expected to nominate their own candidates, including Parliament Speaker Szymon Hołownia of the Poland 2050 party and Sławomir Mentzen from the far-right Confederation, the election is likely to revolve around Nawrocki and Trzaskowski.
Under Poland’s electoral rules, the first round of voting is slated for May 2025, with a runoff two weeks later if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote.
PiS hopes to regain political momentum after losing parliamentary power last year, while KO aims to maintain its current dominance under Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The campaign will test the nation’s appetite for change versus continuity as both sides gear up for a heated contest.
