Warsaw, May 19, 2024 - Poland's presidential election is heading to a second round. None of the candidates managed to secure more than 50% of the votes in the first round held on May 18. According to Ipsos exit polls, the top two candidates advancing to the runoff are Rafal Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki.
Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal-conservative candidate and current Mayor of Warsaw, garnered approximately 30.8% of the vote. Karol Nawrocki, representing the national-conservative Law and Justice party, secured around 29.1% support. The candidate from the far-right Confederation, Slawomir Mentzen, is projected to have received 15.4% of the votes.
The second round is scheduled for June 1. Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of Trzaskowski's victory to implement reforms. Observers suggest that a win for Nawrocki could potentially trigger early parliamentary elections.