Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and a conservative historian, Karol Nawrocki, emerged as the front-runners in Poland’s presidential election Sunday, according to an exit poll, putting them on track to face off in a second round in two weeks,
AP reports.
A late exit poll by the Ipsos institute released early Monday showed Trzaskowski with an estimated 31.2% of the votes and Nawrocki with 29.7%. That suggested the runoff on June 1 could be very tight. Official results are expected on Monday or Tuesday.
Trzaskowski is a liberal allied with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who speaks foreign languages and holds pro-European Union views. His support is strongest in cities, where many like his secular views and support for LGBTQ+ rights.
Nawrocki is a conservative historian with no prior political experience who was backed by the national conservative Law and Justice party. The head of a state historical institute, he has positioned himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty.
Nawrocki was welcomed by President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month in what was viewed as an endorsement and has embraced anti-Ukrainian rhetoric during the campaign.
It was a worse showing for Trzaskowski than expected, and it appeared overall to be a good showing for the candidates on the right in a large field of 13 candidates.
Nawrocki did better than expected despite recent allegations of him obtaining an apartment from an elderly man in a dishonest manner, which he denies. After the scandal erupted, he donated the apartment to charity.
