WARSAW’S Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki emerged as the front-runners in Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, according to an exit poll, putting them on track to face off in a second round in two weeks.

A late exit poll by the Ipsos institute released early yesterday showed that Mr Trzaskowski with an estimated 31.2 per cent of the votes and Mr Nawrocki with 29.7 per cent. 
 

Mr Trzaskowski, a liberal allied with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, holds pro-European Union views. His support is strongest in cities, where many like his secular outlook and support for LGBT+ rights.
 

Mr Nawrocki, a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump with no prior political experience, is backed by the national conservative Law and Justice party. 
 

Addressing his supporters, Mr Nawrocki thanked “the millions of Poles who did not succumb to the pressure of propaganda, falsehood, lies.”

Far-right candidates Slawomir Mentzen and Grzegorz Braun were projected to win 14.9 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.

Mr Tusk tweeted on Sunday evening that the next two weeks “will decide the future of our homeland. Therefore, not a step back.”