Right-wing populists hopeful after first round of Polish presidential election

Karol Nawrocki, presidential candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election supported by Poland’s national conservative Law and Justice party. Picture: AP

There is a long way to go yet in Poland’s presidential election – but Sunday’s first round was a good day for candidates on the political right and far right, and served as a warning for the moderate government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Mr Tusk’s candidate, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, and a conservative opponent backed by the national conservative Law and Justice party, Karol Nawrocki, emerged ahead in a pack of 13 candidates.