The first year after Karol Nawrocki's election triumph did not bring political calm. In a survey by United Surveys by IBRiS for Virtual Poland 48.2% of respondents positively assessed his current presidency and 50.1% issued a negative rating. The difference is within the limits of statistical error, but shows a hard division of the country.
Almost equal division of assessments
The United Surveys by IBRiS survey for Virtual Poland shows a country separated almost precisely in half. Positively, the current presidency of Karol Nawrocki was evaluated by 48.2% of respondents. The consequence “strongly positive” pointed to 23.6 percent and 24.6%.
On the negative side, 50.1% of respondents were included. In this group, 26.7% chose the consequence "more negatively" and 23.4% "decreasedly negative". The opinion did not have 1.7 percent of participants. Thus, critics’ advantage is 1.9 percent points and falls within the limits of statistical error.
The survey was conducted on 28 and 29 May 2026 by CATI/CAWI method on a nationwide example of 1,000 people. The consequence describes the state of public opinion at a peculiar moment. It gives no basis for proclaiming neither the triumph of the Presidential Palace nor the political defeat of the head of state.
Year after election victory
The mention point for the poll was the anniversary of the second circular of the presidential election of 1 June 2025. Karol Nawrocki then won 50.89 percent of the votes and Rafał Trzaskowski won 49.11 percent. The consequence of the elections from the start indicated that the fresh president would take office in a country profoundly politically divided.
Precision must be maintained: on 1 June 2026 it was 1 year since the election victory, not the full year of office. Karol Nawrocki was sworn in on August 6, 2025. However, the survey itself afraid an overall assessment of his current presidency and so represents an crucial balance of the first phase of his word of office.
The consequence besides shows an exceptionally tiny group of indecisive. Only 1.7 percent of respondents were incapable or unwilling to make an evaluation. Poles already have their opinions, frequently strong. The president is not a public indifferent figure.
Presidentship in an acute dispute
Karol Nawrocki took office with a mandate to defend state sovereignty, safety and conservative social order. This is what a large part of the right-wing electorate expects of him. However, the Presidential Palace operates alongside the government coming from the other camp, so all decision becomes part of a wider conflict over the direction of the state.
In this situation, the office of president is of real importance. The signature under the law, veto or legislative initiative may affect citizens' rights, public finances and the scope of Polish autonomy in relation to external pressure. A 50-50 poll does not release the head of state from responsibility. On the contrary, it requires a clear explanation of decisions and consequences for average Poles.
Nor does it make sense to pretend that all negative vote is based solely on an assessment of the President's concrete actions. Polish policy has been based on strong camp recognition for years. any respondents measure the office through the prism of their own organization sympathy. This does not invalidate the study, but suggests how carefully to read the difference of 1.9 percent points.
The strength of the Polish state is at stake
For Karol Nawrocki, the most crucial task remains unchanged: to turn the election mandate into permanent trust in the office. He's not going to do it by chasing a momentary applause. Consequences, efficient usage of constitutional competences and defence of national interest in security, the economy and relations with the European Union are needed.
A graph of support is not at stake for Poles. It is about whether the president will be an effective fuse against bad laws and whether he can force a serious debate where the government chooses organization discipline. Almost half of the surveyers give him a clear credit. Almost as many groups are waiting for reasons to be criticized. The next months will show whether the Presidential Palace will be able to grow its mandate without blurring the rules, thanks to which Karol Nawrocki won the election.
Source: WP News
