Barbara Mogling

Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki, born in 1983 in Gdańsk, is a Polish historian and politician who assumed the presidency of Poland in 2025. His academic background is in history, with a PhD focusing on anti-communist activities in Poland. His scholarly interests include anti-communist resistance, organized crime, and sports history, reflecting his own past as an athlete. Nawrocki's career has been significantly tied to institutions preserving national memory, notably the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) and the Museum of the Second World War. He served as director of the IPN from 2021 to 2025 and previously led the Museum of the Second World War from 2017 to 2021. His political ascent culminated in his selection as the presidential candidate for the Law and Justice (PiS) party. He ran as an independent candidate supported by PiS, winning the 2025 presidential election against Rafał Trzaskowski. As president, his tenure has been marked by a rightward political shift and a confrontational stance towards the ruling coalition.

Born in Gdańsk on March 3, 1983, Karol Tadeusz Nawrocki grew up in a family with ties to the Solidarity movement; his father was a turner and a member of the organization. Nawrocki pursued his passion for history at the University of Gdańsk, earning a master's degree in 2008. He furthered his academic pursuits, obtaining a PhD in humanities with research on social resistance to communist rule in the Elbląg Voivodeship between 1976 and 1989. His academic work often explores themes of anti-communist opposition and the history of organized crime in Poland. Nawrocki also completed postgraduate studies in strategy, program, and project management. In his youth, he was actively involved in sports, participating in football and boxing, and maintained a strong interest in physical fitness.

Nawrocki's professional career began at the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in 2009, where he eventually headed the Branch Public Education Office in Gdańsk. From 2017 to 2021, he served as the director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, an institution dedicated to preserving Poland's wartime history. He then returned to the IPN, rising to the position of deputy president in June 2021 and subsequently becoming its president in July 2021. Throughout his tenure, Nawrocki has been recognized for emphasizing a patriotic and anti-communist narrative within Poland's historical institutions. He is also an author of books and articles on topics including anti-communist opposition, organized crime, and sports history, sometimes using the pseudonym 'Tadeusz Batyr' for works on crime in communist Poland.

Karol Nawrocki was selected as the presidential candidate for the Law and Justice (PiS) party for the 2025 election. He ran as an independent candidate, supported by PiS, with a platform described as patriotic, pro-Christian, pro-NATO, and pro-Western. After securing second place in the first round, he won the runoff election against Rafał Trzaskowski with 50.9% of the vote. His campaign was accompanied by controversies related to his personal life, including past affiliations and property dealings. Inaugurated on August 6, 2025, President Nawrocki has signaled a rightward shift in Polish politics and has adopted a confrontational approach towards the ruling coalition. He has also expressed a desire to strengthen the presidency, advocating for a constitutional reform towards a semi-presidential system.