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Karol Nawrocki
President of Poland since 2025 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki[a] (born 3 March 1983) is a Polish politician and historian who has served as the president of Poland since 2025. Previously, he headed the Institute of National Remembrance from 2021 to 2025, and was the director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk from 2017 to 2021.
Born in Gdańsk, Nawrocki studied history at the University of Gdańsk, earning a PhD in 2013 with a dissertation on anti-communist activities in the former Polish People's Republic. His academic work centers on themes such as anti-communist resistance, organized crime, and the history of sports, a subject tied to his own background as an active youth athlete, particularly in football and boxing. Nawrocki’s early professional career was closely aligned with institutions dedicated to preserving and promoting Poland’s historical memory. He joined the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in 2009 and gained recognition for reorienting Poland’s historical institutions toward a patriotic and anti-communist narrative. On 24 November 2024, Nawrocki was announced and supported by Law and Justice (PiS) as an independent candidate for the 2025 Polish presidential election.
Nawrocki was elected President in the second round held on 1 June, receiving 50.89% of the vote. He was inaugurated as President of Poland on 6 August 2025. His election reflects a broader right-ward shift in Poland’s political landscape, where issues of national identity, historical interpretation, and political sovereignty dominate public discourse. His chancellery is made up of PiS politicians and his IPN affiliates.
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Early life and education
Karol Nawrocki was born on 3 March 1983, in Gdańsk. His father, Ryszard (1949–2008), was a turner and a member of Solidarity. His mother, Elżbieta, was a bookbinder. He has a younger sister named Nina who is a pastry cook and works in a restaurant in Kraków. He completed primary school and the 4th High School in his home city.[2] After passing his final exams (matura) in 2002, he graduated in 2003 from the Post-Secondary School of Business and Administration in Gdańsk with the title of Personnel Management Specialist.[2] In the same year, he began his university studies at Faculty of History at the University of Gdańsk, which he completed in 2008 with a master's degree.[3]
At the same institute, he obtained a PhD in the humanities based on his dissertation titled: Social Resistance to Communist Rule in the Elbląg Voivodeship, 1976–1989.[4][2] In 2023, he completed the International MBA in Strategy, Programme and Project Management postgraduate studies at the Gdańsk University of Technology.[5]
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Early career
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He worked at the Institute of National Remembrance in the years 2009–2017, heading its Branch Public Education Office in Gdańsk from 2013 to 2017. He also served as the chairman of the Siedlce District Council in Gdańsk between 2011 and 2017.[4]
In 2017, he was appointed the director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk,[6] a job he held until 2021. He then returned to the Institute of National Remembrance, becoming its deputy president in June 2021.[7] In July 2021, he took office as the head of the Institute of National Remembrance after being elected by the Sejm and approved by the Senate of Poland.[8] Nawrocki is the author or co-author of several books as well as numerous scientific and popular science papers on anticommunist opposition, organised crime in the Polish People's Republic and the history of sports.[citation needed]
Nawrocki has used the pen name "Tadeusz Batyr" to write a book about a gangster living in 1980s communist Poland.[9] Nawrocki in 2018 went on television as Tadeusz Batyr, wearing a hat and having the television broadcast blur his face, where he said that Nawrocki "inspired me" and highlighted how Nawrocki "was the first person to examine organised crime in communist Poland".[9] Meanwhile, on social media, Nawrocki wrote that "Tadeusz Batyr contacted me for some guidance" and "thanked me for my help with an interesting book, which I recommend".[9]
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2025 presidential campaign
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Nawrocki was considered as a candidate of PiS in presidential election at least from July 2024.[citation needed] On 24 November 2024, at the Sokół Gymnastics Society Building, during a civic congress organised by Law and Justice, Nawrocki was announced by Andrzej Nowak as an independent candidate supported by the party in the 2025 presidential election.[10][11][12] Nawrocki's campaign's platform was described as "patriotic, pro-Christian, pro-NATO, pro-Western, and pro-Donald Trump".[13] He finished second in the first round held on 18 May 2025 with 29.54% of the vote, and faced Civic Platform candidate Rafał Trzaskowski in a runoff on 1 June.[14]
On 1 May 2025, Nawrocki met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.[15][16] On 22 May 2025, Nawrocki met with Sławomir Mentzen, who placed third in the first round of the election. They reportedly discussed possible concessions that could lead to Mentzen endorsing Nawrocki.[17] Mentzen presented a set of eight points[b] for a candidate to sign onto,[18] which were signed by Nawrocki.[19][20][21] Former candidates Marek Jakubiak, Marek Woch, Grzegorz Braun and Artur Bartoszewicz endorsed Nawrocki for the runoff.[22][23][24][25] On 1 June 2025, Nawrocki won the runoff election with 50.9% of votes, beating Trzaskowski, who received 49.1% of votes.[26][27]
Nawrocki in Bielsko-Biała on 2 December
Nawrocki in Sanok on 30 March
Nawrocki in Nowa Dęba on 29 April
Nawrocki in Płock on 7 May
Nawrocki in Bydgoszcz on 19 May
Nawrocki at CPAC event on 27 May
_Nawrocki_in_Sanok.jpg)
_-_Spotkanie_wyborcze_Karola_Nawrockiego_(2025-04-29)_07.jpg)
Controversies
Nawrocki was the subject of various affairs during the 2025 presidential election. Speculation began on whether PiS would replace Nawrocki when it was revealed that he had contact with a future criminal during his time as a boxer two decades prior, for which he was attacked by opposing politicians.[28] Polling showed, however, that the vast plurality of people did not expect Nawrocki to be replaced.[29] Nawrocki would continue being PiS' presidential candidate going into the first round and would face further controversies about his private life.
During the course of the campaign, public criticism emerged over Nawrocki's acquisition of a second apartment from an elderly man in pre-trial detention. As Nawrocki had declared to own just one apartment during a debate, Onet publicised information about him owning a second one. The candidate proceeded to declare that he had acquired the second apartment from the elderly man for pledging lifelong care in exchange; however, it was revealed the man was placed in a state care facility without Nawrocki's involvement.[30] Amid accusations of exploitation, Nawrocki defended the deal's legality and donated the property to charity, after which some journalists claimed the man regained access to the property.[31]
Throughout the second round, Nawrocki encountered a set of new controversies involving his personal life, beginning with the revelation that he had previously participated in a 70 vs 70 football hooligans' fight (Polish: ustawka) between fans of Lechia Gdańsk and Lech Poznań.[32] Facing criticism, he said that Prime Minister Tusk likewise participated in football hooliganism in his youth, and called the fights "noble battles".[33][34] It also came to light that Nawrocki had Chelsea and Lechia Gdańsk tattoos on his torso.[35] Further controversies about Nawrocki's personal background emerged due to allegations of him having worked as a bodyguard for prostitutes at the five-star Grand Hotel in Sopot in his youth[36][37][38][39][40] and using a nicotine pouch while on air during a presidential debate,[41][42][43] which raised concerns about a possible nicotine addiction.[44][45]
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Presidency (2025–present)
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Nawrocki was inaugurated as president of Poland on 6 August 2025, succeeding Andrzej Duda. On the same day he participated in the ceremony of accepting the authority of the President of Poland on the Polish Armed Forces.[46]
Nawrocki's Chancellery and advisors
On 7 August, Karol Nawrocki selected his appointees to the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland (KPRP) — Zbigniew Bogucki as Chief of the Chancellery, clashing with Law and Justice's intention to seat Przemysław Czarnek in the position,[47] Sławomir Cenckiewicz as Chief of the National Security Bureau, Adam Andruszkiewicz as Deputy Chief of the Chancellery, Paweł Szefernaker as Chief of the Cabinet, Marcin Przydacz as Chief of the Bureau for International Policy, Rafał Leśkiewicz as the Press Spokesperson, Jarosław Dębowski as Deputy Chief of the Cabinet, and Wojciech Kolarski as Secretary of State, Agnieszka Jędrzak, Mateusz Kotecki, Karol Rabenda as Undersecretaries of State, and Magdalena Głowa as General Director of the Chancellery.[48][49][50] Nawrocki also appointed Jarosław Wąsowicz as his presidential chaplain.[51]
Nawrocki's appointees came from two groups: Dębowski, Cenckiewicz, Jędrzak, Kotecki and Leśkiewicz were Nawrocki's coworkers at the Institute of National Remembrance.[50] Other appointments came from the Law and Justice party — KPRP official Kolarski, former viceminister Rabenda, posełs Andruszkiewicz, Bogucki, Przydacz and Szefernaker, who left their parliamentary positions for the KPRP.[c]
The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland protested Cenckiewicz's appointment, restricting his access from secret information on 5 August,[52] and New Left poseł Tomasz Trela suggested that Cenckiewicz's nomination should be withdrawn.[53] Regardless, Cenckiewicz accepted Nawrocki's nomination.
On 18 August, Nawrocki appointed several presidential advisors: Jarosław Bujak, Dariusz Dudek, Piotr Głowacki, Radosław Gruk, Paweł Gruza, Magdalena Hajduk, Jan Kasprzyk, Beata Kempa, Tomasz Obszański, Błażej Poboży, Barbara Socha, Krzysztof Wacławek, Łukasz Witek, and social advisors: Wanda Buk, Piotr Czauderna, Alvin Gajadhur, Bogdan Kubiak, Sławomir Mazurek, Andrzej Nowak, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and Leszek Skiba.[54]
Relations with the Prime Minister
The start of Nawrocki's presidency was marked by a confrontational stance against Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his ruling coalition,[55] citing his large and recent social mandate after the recent presidential election.[56] Analysts consider the downfall of Tusk's coalition and early parliamentary elections as a goal for Nawrocki,[57] with him seen as competing with Tusk’s government in matters of lawmaking and governance,[58] announcing he is seeking a "new formula of cooperation" between the President and parliament.[59] Nawrocki held his first meeting with Tusk on 14 August.[60]
Constitutional reform
At his inaugural speech, Nawrocki announced intention to create a new Constitution by 2030,[61] announcing the creation of a Council for the Reform of the System of the State[62] (Polish: Rada ds. Naprawy Ustroju Państwa).[63] Soon after, Paweł Szefernaker, Nawrocki's appointed cabinet chief, elaborated that Nawrocki was seeking to empower the presidency.[64] According to RMF FM, the Council is to be formed between September and October, chaired by presidential advisor Dariusz Dudek, and seek to reform, among others, the form of government from the current parliamentary-cabinet to a semi-presidential system.[65]
Domestic policy
On 7 August, Nawrocki signed legislative initiatives for bills that would restore the old project of the Central Communication Port,[66] on 8 August that would abolish PIT for families with more than one child, increase the income tax threshold to an annual income of 140,000 PLN,[67] and on 9 August that would extend the prohibition of sale of Polish land to foreigners.[68] On 21 August, Nawrocki for the first time used the presidential veto against an omnibus bill regarding wind turbine deregulation and the extension of energy price freeze period, criticizing the deregulation as pushed by a wind turbine lobby and unsafe, stating he would propose his own price freeze bill.[69]
Foreign policy
According to analysts, the dispute over whether the President or Prime Minister should represent Poland at international meetings is an axis of conflict between Tusk and Nawrocki, titled as a "war for the seat".[70] On 13 August, Nawrocki represented Poland at a teleconference of Trump and European leaders regarding the upcoming Russia-US summit in Alaska, a change from Tusk previously representing the country in international conferences.[71]
Soon after his inauguration, Nawrocki was invited to the White House by President of the United States Donald Trump for a meeting on 3 September,[72] and scheduled a visit to the Vatican City two days later on 5 September.[73]
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Political views
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Nawrocki is considered a nonpartisan, but with a conservative outlook.[74] Nawrocki describes himself as a "representative of the broadly defined patriotic camp", and stresses that he has never belonged to a political party.[75] He considers himself "a civic candidate" that will end the "Polish-Polish war".[76] He declared that he is ready to support "any Polish government that demands the exhumation of Polish victims in Volhynia", and describes issues of history and social accountability as his "demarcation lines".[77] Euronews describes the political alignment of Nawrocki's campaign as "patriotic, pro-Christian, pro-NATO and favourable to president Donald Trump".[13] Financial Times described Nawrocki as "anti-liberal, anti-German, anti-EU".[78]
Social issues
Nawrocki is a Catholic with culturally conservative views and accused the ruling coalition and LGBT groups of "sexualising children", demonstratively throwing a copy of the cover of Gender Queer: A Memoir into a paper shredder during the 2025 campaign.[79][80] Nawrocki supports maintaining close ties between the Catholic Church in Poland and the Polish government, the broad criminalisation of abortion, and opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriage, civil unions or extending legal rights to people in same-sex relationships, citing Catholic sexual ethics.[79][81] Geopolitically, he supports further strengthening Polish ties to the United States and NATO while opposing European integration.[13]
He stresses his commitment to promote Polish patriotism, Christian values and national sovereignty, and has declared the need to defend traditional social values.[82] He has stated his strong opposition to removal of crosses from state buildings.[83] He holds anti-communist views, and has criticised the Polish education system, claiming that Polish education is controlled by the "post-communist party environment". In February 2024, he was listed as one of the persons wanted by the Russian Federation on criminal charges for the removal of monuments commemorating the Red Army erected in the former Polish People's Republic in the years 1944–1989.[84] He has described cursed soldiers as national heroes of Poland and praised Law and Justice for implementing a National Remembrance Day in their honour.[82]
He declared himself an opponent of the EU's migration policy and announced his intention to terminate the EU's migration pact.[85]
Economics
Nawrocki's program has been described as economically interventionist,[86] economically nationalist,[87] and economically left-wing.[88] Nawrocki describes himself as a strong supporter of armaments and social investment programmes. In a speech in which he accepted Law and Justice's endorsement for his candidacy, Nawrocki pledged to abolish all overtime labor tax and to focus on large economic investments; he strongly supports the Central Communication Port project, and praised the Central Industrial Region and Stocznia Gdynia schemes developed in the interwar Second Polish Republic.[89] Nawrocki expressed his fascination with other large investments such as the Vistula Spit canal and Świnoujście LNG terminal, and wants to pursue similar undertakings.[90]
Nawrocki calls for "a welfare state with zero VAT on food".[91] He promised to increase social spending, welfare benefits and pensions;[92] he also supports welfare programmes and opposes adopting the Euro as Poland's currency.[93] He stresses the lack of transport in Poland and has pledged to develop rail infrastructure in underdeveloped regions of the country.[94] Nawrocki proposes to enact an additional tax on the owners of three and more apartments, with an exemption for families with children.[95] His other proposals include abolishing tax on savings and increasing the annual indexation of pensions.[96] He also expressed welfare chauvinist views - believing that Poles are "treated worse in their own country than immigrants", Nawrocki argues that social benefits in Poland should be for Poles only, and pensions for Ukrainian immigrants should be eliminated; additionally, Polish citizens should have a priority in healthcare, school and kindergarten queues.[97][98]
He objected to the Tusk government's cut in healthcare contributions for businesses and stated that he would oppose any attempt to reduce healthcare funding.[99] Nawrocki also signed a list of 11 pledges, including promises to not raise the retirement age, to uphold worker protections, to defend minimum wages, to retain the ban on Sunday business activity, to promote economic patriotism, and to increase funding for the public health service and agriculture. Based on these pledges, he was endorsed by Poland's Solidarity trade union.[100] Nawrocki supports additional taxes on "digital giants operating online and targeting Polish users" and the expansion of social housing.[101]
He argues that Poland needs to achieve "full energy sovereignty". He supports nuclear energy, describing it as "the most secure and stable one". He also criticised the European Green Deal, stating that while he supports environmental protection, he opposes "climate madness at the expense of Polish homes, workers and entrepreneurs". Nawrocki also believes that Poland needs to ensure its food security and respect "the sovereignty of the Polish countryside"; he has described rural Poland as "the mainstay of Polish culture, traditions and social values".[89] He wishes to implement new policies that will combat "unfair competition" in the Polish economy.[102]
Nawrocki advocated for reducing the value-added tax rate from 23% to 22% during his presidential campaign, as well as an exemption from personal income tax for families with two or more children. He also pledged to veto blanket tax increases.[96][103] He argued that cryptocurrency offers a prospect for innovation, and expressed his opposition to further regulations on investment.[104]
Foreign policy
Karol Nawrocki has emphasised in his statements that the geopolitical interest of the Polish state lies in pushing back the Russian Federation.[2] He has stated that "Russia is imperialist in its foundation whether it is white terror, red terror or modern terror".[105] According to him, the foundation of Poland's security is a strong position within NATO and a close alliance with the United States.[2] He also supports regional alliances such as the Bucharest Nine and favours expanding this format to include Sweden and Finland.[2] Nawrocki is an advocate of increasing defense spending and expanding the army to 300,000 troops. However, he opposes conscription or mandatory military training for young men.[2]
Nawrocki opposes the federalisation of the European Union and stresses the need to maintain Polish national identity within the European Union, adding that "Poland does not need a centralised state populated by EU citizens of Polish origin".[102] Nawrocki criticised what he considered to be the overly submissive policy of Donald Tusk's government toward Germany. He advocated for the restoration of a balanced and partnership-based relationship between the two countries.[2] He also demands World War II reparations from Germany for material losses and war crimes committed in occupied Poland.[2]
He supports ending the Russo-Ukrainian War by a peace agreement but argues that the issue of territorial cessions should be decided by the European community as well as Ukraine itself.[105] Nawrocki opposed the deployment of Polish troops to Ukraine. He supported the normalisation of relations with Ukraine on a basis of partnership, as well as the recognition and dignified burial of Polish victims in Volhynia.[2] Nawrocki is opposed to Ukrainian membership in NATO or the European Union until Ukraine accepts responsibility for the genocide of Poles in Volhynia. He has previously denounced attempts to downplay the 1943–1945 massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia for the sake of improving Polish-Ukrainian relations.[106] He would seek to punish the glorification of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.[107] Nawrocki distanced himself from the former pro-Ukrainian policy of PiS and criticized Ukraine for acting against Polish interests.[108] He was accused of anti-Ukrainian sentiment,[109] and "echoing Kremlin talking points about Ukraine".[110] Responding to the accusations of speaking "Putin's language" on Ukraine, Nawrocki stated: "I speak the language of Polish people. Millions want to say that Zelensky mistreats us, but they're silenced with 'you're spreading Putin's propaganda'."[111]
He was criticised in Israel for downplaying the role of Poles in the Holocaust.[112] Nawrocki said he would defend Poland "against all disgusting attacks" by Holocaust scholars.[113] Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, publicly defended Nawrocki in response to the criticism.[114] During the election campaign, Nawrocki defended the 2018 amendment that criminalized attributing responsibility for the Holocaust to the Polish nation, stating: "I am fighting for this truth. Poles are not antisemites. Many Poles lost their lives during World War II saving Jews." When asked about Israel, Nawrocki expressed his belief that "there is no state that is a chosen nation to live out its history".[115] He also promised to end the tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles in the presidential palace.[116] However, Polish media argued that Nawrocki generally refrained from directly criticising Israel during the election.[117]
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Personal life
Karol Nawrocki is married to Marta Nawrocka (born in 1986), a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk and an employee of the National Revenue Administration.[118] She specialises in the control of the oil industry and combating illegal trade. Together, they have two children: a son Antoni and a daughter, Katarzyna. They also raised Daniel (born in 2003), Marta Nawrocka's son from a previous relationship.[118] The couple married in 2010, and Karol Nawrocki adopted Daniel.[118]
Daniel Nawrocki studies at the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk. He is involved in journalism, working for Gazeta Morska and previously for Dziennik Bałtycki. In 2023, he was appointed a member of the Youth Sports Council under the Minister of Sport. He was also a member of the Youth Council of the City of Gdańsk and now serves as a neighborhood councilor. In 2024, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Gdańsk City Council as a candidate of the Law and Justice party.[119]
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Honours and awards
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Notes
- Polish: [ˈkarɔl naˈvrɔt͡skʲi] ⓘ
- The declaration included commitments to not allow for:
- the introduction of new taxes or increasing existing ones
- introduction of the Euro in Poland
- the restricting of freedom of speech, abiding by the constitution
- sending soldiers to Ukrainian territory
- allowing Ukrainian accession to NATO
- the restricting of access to arms for private citizens
- transfer of additional powers to European Union institutions
- signing of European Union treaties that would weaken Poland
- Michał Jach, Bogumiła Olbryś, Tomasz Rzymkowski and Marek Subocz are set to replace them in the Sejm.[50]
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References
External links
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