The liberal mayor of Warsaw, the presidential candidate of Poland’s main ruling party, is likely to win next year’s election for head of state, defeating the contender backed by the largest right-wing opposition grouping, a poll has found.
The study, published on Monday, showed that 52-year-old Rafał Trzaskowski, who is supported by the governing, centrist Civic Coalition (KO), would secure 40.4% of the vote in the first round.
His main rival, historian Karol Nawrocki – endorsed by the nationalist-populist Law and Justice (PiS) opposition party – would end up in second place, garnering 24.5% of the vote.
Sławomir Mentzen, co-head of the far-right Confederation grouping, would claim third place with 10.7%, the poll found.
Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of the lower house of parliament and leader of the centrist Poland 2050 party, a junior partner in the coalition government, would secure fourth place with 9.2% of the vote.
Meanwhile, 5.5% of respondents said they have not yet decided who to vote for, according to the poll conducted by United Surveys for Polish private news website Wirtualna Polska.
His main rival, historian Karol Nawrocki – endorsed by the nationalist-populist Law and Justice (PiS) opposition party – would end up in second place, garnering 24.5% of the vote.
Sławomir Mentzen, co-head of the far-right Confederation grouping, would claim third place with 10.7%, the poll found.
Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of the lower house of parliament and leader of the centrist Poland 2050 party, a junior partner in the coalition government, would secure fourth place with 9.2% of the vote.
Meanwhile, 5.5% of respondents said they have not yet decided who to vote for, according to the poll conducted by United Surveys for Polish private news website Wirtualna Polska.
Run-off prospects bright for Trzaskowski
The survey also showed that should Trzaskowski and Nawrocki face off in a potential second-round runoff, the mayor of Warsaw is expected to triumph with 55.9% of the vote, leaving Nawrocki with 33.7%.
Poland is set to choose its next president in May, as Andrzej Duda, the PiS-allied incumbent, is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election after two five-year terms.
The campaign race is officially due to start on January 8.
In the 2020 presidential election, Trzaskowski lost narrowly to Duda following a tightly-contested race which analysts said was skewed against the Warsaw mayor due to complete control of the public media by PiS, which was in power at the time.
More In Politics MORE...