Who is Karol Nawrocki? Everything we know about the new Polish president and his family

TOP US POLITICIANS & THEIR PARTNERS

Karol Nawrocki’s name might have been unfamiliar to many just a year ago, but today, it headlines a new chapter in Polish politics. The 42-year-old conservative historian has managed to land himself in the country’s top job. With his unconventional background, controversial past, and staunch traditionalist views, Nawrocki is already making waves.

Discover our latest podcast

And it's not just him drawing attention—his wife Marta, a tough tax official, and their blended family are part of the narrative.

Poland’s new president: A conservative with a punch

Karol Nawrocki clinched the presidency with a narrow 50.89% majority, marking the return of a nationalist figure to Poland's highest office. Backed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Nawrocki's campaign was built around the slogan 'Poland First.' He positioned himself as a voice of the people, rallying support in rural regions and conservative strongholds.

Though labelled a Eurosceptic, Nawrocki's stance is nuanced. He supports military aid to Ukraine but rejects fast-tracking the country’s membership in the EU and NATO—a position that resonates with many Poles hosting Ukrainian refugees.

While his liberal rival Rafal Trzaskowski leaned into pro-EU sentiments, Nawrocki wooed voters with promises of traditional values, gun rights, and strong national identity.

His meetings with Donald Trump and appearances at shooting ranges and boxing gyms formed a gritty, patriotic image. He declared on social media:

Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first.

Despite his critics calling him a puppet of PiS and questioning his independence, Nawrocki proudly stated in a speech in Biala Podlaska:

I am simply one of you.

But behind the polished campaign image lies a more turbulent personal history.

Boxing past and alleged underworld ties

Before entering politics, Nawrocki was best known as the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), where he led efforts to reshape historical narratives and remove Soviet-era monuments—a move that earned him a spot on Russia’s wanted list.

Yet, it’s his amateur boxing past and rumoured links to criminal circles that have raised the most eyebrows. Nawrocki himself acknowledged taking part in a pre-arranged football brawl in Gdansk in 2009.

He said during a campaign debate:

All my sports activities were based on the strength of my heart, the strength of my muscles, my fists.

He defended his actions as a form of fair competition, though some participants were later convicted.

Media reports suggest he may have escorted prostitutes while working as a hotel security guard, and he has been linked to acquiring an apartment from a pensioner under questionable circumstances. Nawrocki later donated the flat to charity, calling the allegations defamatory.

Despite these controversies, right-wing supporters saw the media scrutiny as a smear campaign. His campaign performance, initially shaky, gained traction as voters rallied around his defiant persona.

As public curiosity about Nawrocki grew, so too did interest in his family—especially his wife, Marta.

Meet Marta Nawrocka: Poland’s new first lady

Marta Nawrocka has emerged as a notable figure in her own right. A law graduate and tax official, she specialises in monitoring high-risk industries and fighting illegal gambling. She once said:

My work requires a lot of courage

The couple’s relationship began when Marta was 19 and a single mother to her son Daniel. She recalled:

I was conquered by the fact that for Karol it was not an obstacle that I was 19 years old and had a two-year-old son.

Nawrocki adopted Daniel, now an aspiring journalist and local political candidate, and raised him alongside their two biological children, Antoni and Katarzyna.