Karol Nawrocki’s inauguration as Poland’s new president on Wednesday has set the stage for a turbulent power struggle with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government and raised fears among Poland’s Ukrainian community.
The historian and author used his swearing-in speech to parliament to make his position clear: “No to illegal immigration, no to the euro.”
Nawrocki’s election campaign was marked by a rise in nationalist rhetoric and repeated criticism of Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. His victory has unsettled many at home and abroad.
His rhetoric is making it easier for people to express anti-Ukrainian views, warned Oleksandr Pestrykov of the Ukrainian House Foundation in Warsaw – calling it a form of social segregation.
“Seeing Nawrocki speak in this way, someone who doesn't like Ukrainians but would have been ashamed to say so, can now say it openly,” Pestrykov said.
On the campaign trail, Nawrocki described Ukrainian refugees as “ungrateful” and a “burden on society”. His slogan “Poland First, Poles First” came with pledges to give citizens priority in healthcare and education, cut pensions for Ukrainians and restrict benefits to Poles only.
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Calls for unity mask deep divides
Despite his hardline message, Nawrocki has also tried to appear as a unifier. In a video released before the inauguration, he urged Poles to “unite” and spoke of “a new chapter in the history of our beloved Poland”.
He said he would be an “active president” from the outset, ready to propose laws and push government action.
But cooperation with Tusk’s government may prove difficult. The prime minister has already expressed doubts about Nawrocki’s intentions. “I have no doubt that Mr Nawrocki will do everything to annoy us,” Tusk said. He also warned that he would not let the president “demolish” his government.
Nawrocki, who has no prior experience in elected office, narrowly defeated liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski in the 1 June election. The close result revealed deep divisions in Polish politics.
Although the president does not run the government, the role comes with real power – including veto rights and a say in foreign and defence policy.
Nawrocki had the backing of former US president Donald Trump during his campaign. But analysts say he lacks international experience. With Ukraine a key issue, this could become a source of friction.
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Foreign policy split
Nawrocki’s support for Ukraine appears conditional, said Jean-Yves Potel, a historian and political scientist. “Nawrocki seems to want to impose conditions on the Ukrainians, particularly regarding Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the European Union. He wants to exert pressure on this issue,” Potel told RFI.
Still, he said Tusk remains Poland’s key foreign policy actor. “He is not going to follow Nawrocki,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Nawrocki after his win and expressed hope for continued cooperation.
Following a phone call between the two, Zelensky said they had agreed to exchange visits and work together on practical matters. He said he was “thankful for the readiness to work together”.
Even so, Nawrocki’s remarks about Kyiv’s “lack of gratitude” and his opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine suggest a cooler relationship than under former president Andrzej Duda. The shift could affect Poland’s role in the regional response to Russia’s war.
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Abortion deadlock
Tensions are also expected to continue in the lead-up to Poland’s next parliamentary elections in 2027. Nawrocki has openly attacked the Tusk government, calling it “the worst in the history of democratic Poland”.
One major fault line is abortion. In predominantly Catholic Poland, the procedure is only allowed in cases of severe foetal abnormalities or when the mother’s life is at risk. Tusk wants to relax the law. Nawrocki has said he will block any such move.
“He promises to block any law in this direction,” said Potel. “But on the other hand, within Tusk’s coalition, there are Christian Democratic currents that refuse to liberalise abortion.” As a result, no major change may be possible, despite public pressure.
Not all observers think the situation will spiral into open conflict. Piotr Trudnowski, from the Klub Jagiellonski think tank, said “both parties should realise that engaging in intense confrontation is obviously not the way forward.”
The months ahead will show whether compromise is possible – or whether Poland’s political divide grows deeper under Nawrocki’s presidency.
