Poland is holding a tight presidential election that would decide the fate of abortion and LGBTQ rights, which have become one of the main issues in the election.Opinion polls suggest that pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski is to get 30 per cent, with historian Karol Nawrocki polling in second place with 25 per cent. A total of 13 presidential candidates are competing in the election. Polls will be open from 7:00 am (0500 GMT) until 9:00 pm, at which time exit polls are expected to be released.
Key candidates
Vowing to relax abortion laws and protect the rights of the LGBTQ community, Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski has soared to become an important figure in the Polish presidential election. Trzaskowski holds pro-EU sentiments and has pledged to campaign for women’s rights and legalise abortion. He is currently leading the opinion polls before the first round of voting supposed to take place on May 18, with around 30 percent of the vote share. Currently trailing behind Trzaskowski in second place, Karol Nawrocki, 42, is a nationalist historian running for Poland’s presidency. Nawrocki has an interest in the underworld with the backing of the conservative main opposition party. Although Nawrocki has a sympathetic stance towards Ukraine, currently in a war with Russia, he has spoken out against the advantages provided to refugees. Nawrocki is endorsed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was in power in Poland for nine years (2015-2023).A multi-millionaire with a significant social media following, Slawomir Mentze, 38, is a far-right presidential candidate staunchly against abortion and immigration. Mentzen promises a “watertight” Polish border and a “strong and rich Poland”. He is the co-leader of the Confederation party and is currently in third place with 13 percent of the vote share, as per the opinion polls.
Key aspects of the election
Migration has become a decisive issue in the Presidential elections. Since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Poland has provided shelter to thousands of refugees from its war-torn neighbour. Official data suggests that around a million Ukrainians have migrated to Poland, with most of them being women and children. But anti-immigration backlash is also quite rampant in the country. The ruling pro-EU coalition, led by Donald Tusk and the far-right opposition, supports pulling back social benefits for foreigners. Military spending is also one of the key considerations in the Polish presidential elections of 2025. Poland’s defense spending significantly exceeds NATO’s 2% GDP target, reaching 4.7% this year. The country plans to increase this to approximately 5% of GDP next year, aligning with the defense expenditure level advocated by US President Donald Trump for NATO allies. Earlier this year the government announced a military training program aimed at training every adult man residing in the country in case there is an attack by aggressors. Poland, a heavily coal-dependent country, also plans to have three nuclear power plants generating 30 percent of its energy production. The country is also termed as the single largest greenhouse gas emitter in the EU. Abortion has also become a principal issue that is presumed to shape the presidential elections of 2025. Poland has extremely strict laws regarding abortion, and women can only get one of the pregnancy results from sexual abuse, incest, or poses a direct threat to the life of the mother. Providing assistance in an abortion may lead to imprisonment for a period of up to three years.
