The battle for Poland’s presidency is as tight as a pair of sequined pants at EuroPride. On one side, you’ve got Rafal Trzaskowski—the centrist, pro-EU incumbent with a soft spot for civil liberties and a bold vision of equality. On the other, Karol Nawrocki—the nationalist conservative backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), who’s been sipping hard from the Trump playbook and is determined to keep LGBTQ Poles firmly in the closet.
As Poland hits the polls this Sunday, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This isn’t just another European election—it’s a referendum on identity, inclusion, and whether rainbow flags or red hats will define the country’s next chapter.
Trzaskowski’s Inclusive Vision vs. Nawrocki’s Culture War
While both candidates agree on beefing up Poland’s defense and standing with Ukraine, their views on society couldn’t be more different. Trzaskowski is pushing for abortion rights and the long-awaited introduction of civil partnerships for LGBTQ couples. Nawrocki, true to MAGA tradition, wants none of it. He’s playing to a Catholic, rural base with a message that frames LGBTQ equality as a foreign threat rather than a domestic right.
At a rally in Ciechanow, Trzaskowski called on voters to envision a Poland leading the European Union—not just economically, but morally. “Looking at this mobilisation, I see how much hope you have—hope in a future in which Poland plays a leading role in the European Union,” he said.
Contrast that with Nawrocki’s rally in Biala Podlaska, where he painted himself as a man of the people, warning against Poland becoming “a country for the elites.” He didn’t bother with nuance: his Poland is one where LGBTQ rights are a liberal virus, and his job is to keep them out.
What’s at Stake for the LGBTQ Community
For Poland’s LGBTQ community, this vote is nothing short of existential. Under the PiS government, which Nawrocki represents, LGBTQ people have faced increasing hostility. “LGBT-free zones” were encouraged. Pride marches were threatened. Queer youth saw their rights treated as expendable, their safety as negotiable.
A Trzaskowski presidency offers a different future—one where civil partnerships could become law, where state hostility gives way to protection, and where Poland moves from EU’s problem child to progressive partner. If Nawrocki wins, expect continued marginalization, intensified culture wars, and a chill on LGBTQ rights that could echo across Eastern Europe.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Turnout is expected to be decisive, especially among younger, liberal voters in urban centers. They were instrumental in Donald Tusk’s coalition government coming to power—and they might just be the deciding factor again. The race is too close to call, and with exit polls due Sunday night and final results expected Monday, Poland holds its breath.
But for queer Poles, it’s not just about who wins. It’s about who they are allowed to be when the ballots are counted.
Will Poland choose Europe or MAGA? Equality or exclusion? This vote is more than political—it’s deeply personal.