Warsaw: Karol Nawrocki, an independent candidate endorsed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, emerged victorious in Poland’s presidential runoff election, as announced by the Polish National Electoral Commission (PKW) during a press conference on Monday morning. The results, officially stating “Elected in the second round,” were visibly displayed beside Nawrocki’s name on the PKW’s public website.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nawrocki, who currently serves as a historian and the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, secured 50.89 percent of the vote. His competitor, Rafal Trzaskowski, the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) candidate and mayor of Warsaw, received 49.11 percent. This marked Nawrocki’s first presidential campaign, which posed significant challenges as he consistently lagged behind Trzaskowski in various polls, including the initial exit survey conducted on Sunday evening.

Born in 1983 in Gdansk, Nawrocki is set to take over from the outgoing president Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term concludes on August 6.

According to data released by the PKW, voter turnout in the second round of elections was 71.63 percent, positioning Nawrocki among the Polish presidents with the highest number of votes since 1990.

According to the Polish Press Agency, President Duda extended his congratulations to Nawrocki on Monday morning for his electoral victory. Duda expressed his gratitude and well-wishes on social media platform X, acknowledging the citizens’ participation and responsibility in shaping Poland’s future.