Poland has elected Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist conservative, as its next president — a win that signals a turn to the right in one of the European Union's member states.

Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, his wife Marta Nawrocka, his sons Antoni and Daniel gesture as they react to the exit polls of the second round of presidential election, in Warsaw, Poland, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

A nationalist candidate backed by Donald Trump secured victory in Poland’s presidential election, defeating the centrist mayor of Warsaw in a contest that could stymie the government’s efforts to shift the nation back into the European Union mainstream.