The Guardian view on Karol Nawrocki’s win: Poland first, perhaps – but Europe comes last | Editorial

Poland's latest presidential election has seen a stunning upset, with nationalists winning amid growing discontent toward elites and rural areas, marking President Karol Nawrocki's resounding victory as a conservative historian endorsed by Donald Trump. This shift could derail Prime Minister Donald Tusk's agenda, jeopardizing access to EU funds for key reforms like judicial overhaul or abortion rights. Meanwhile, Tusk's centrist government faces internal contradictions and external criticism from Brussels over rule-of-law concerns, with his declining popularity and authority posing a existential threat to his leadership as he struggles to balance legitimacy with governance capability.