Eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki has won the Polish presidential election with 50.89 per cent of the votes in a blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Nawrocki, a historian and amateur boxer, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including Ukrainian refugees.
He beat the liberal mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski, a key ally of Prime Minister Tusk.
Nawrocki had been endorsed and championed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at last week’s Cpac conference.
Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party
Reuters
Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki
Reuters
Civic Coalition presidential candidate and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski
Reuters
The electoral commission in Warsaw said turnout was 71.31 per cent, a record for the second round of a presidential election.
Nawrocki, supported by the Law and Justice party (PiS), is expected to continue the policies of his predecessor, President Andrzej Duda.
Unlike other Eurosceptic leaders such as Orbán or Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Nawrocki supports giving military aid to help Ukraine in their war against Russia.
However, he will oppose membership in Western alliances for Ukraine, a position that seeks to chime with falling support for Ukrainians among Poles, who have hosted more than a million refugees from across the border.
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Karol Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, gestures next to his family
Reuters
Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki
Reuters
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Nawrocki with his win and said she was convinced the bloc could continue its "very good cooperation" with Poland.
She said: "We are all stronger together in our community of peace, democracy, and values. So let us work to ensure the security and prosperity of our common home."
Czech Republic president Petr Pavel said on social media: "I congratulate Karol Nawrocki on his election as Polish President. I believe that under his leadership, Poland will continue to develop its democratic and pro-Western orientation and that our countries will continue mutually beneficial cooperation."
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the result a "fresh victory for (European) patriots".
Nawrocki, backed by the main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, gestures during his final rally
Reuters
While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation.
Nawrocki is expected to carry on the work of President Duda in blocking any attempt by Tusk's Government to liberalise abortion or reform the judiciary.
His victory could lend momentum to the Czech Republic's eurosceptic opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who leads opinion polls ahead of the national Presidential election in October.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke in Nawrocki's favour in May, telling a conservative gathering in Poland that he "needs to be the next president".
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