WARSAW, May 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist historian who has written about the criminal underworld, is heading into Sunday's presidential runoff tied with his opponent, pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Nawrocki has been endorsed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was in power from 2015 to 2023.

The party is closely allied with outgoing President Andrzej Duda -- who has backed Nawrocki -- and is a longtime rival of the governing Civic Coalition.

Nawrocki's campaign slogan was "Poland first, Poles first".

While he has pledged to continue Poland's support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia's invasion, he has denounced the benefits accorded to the war refugees.

He said in a campaign video in April that "social benefits will be above all for Poles" and that "in queues for doctors and clinics, Polish citizens must have priority".

Nawrocki also claimed in May that Ukraine "has not shown gratitude for what Poles have done" for the country, and accused its President Volodymyr Zelensky of "insolence".

He opposes NATO membership for Ukraine.

- Photos with Trump -

Nawrocki is an admirer of US President Donald Trump and has said Poland should focus on shaping and leading Europe's relations with the US leader.

Nawrocki met Trump at the White House in May and claimed Trump had told him: "You will win".

Some lawmakers from the governing coalition have accused Trump of election interference.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also endorsed Nawrocki when she attended a conservative conference in Poland, saying: "He needs to be the next president."

Nawrocki has called for controls on the border with Germany to keep out migrants, and would like Berlin to pay wartime reparations to Poland.

While wooing voters ahead of the razor-edge runoff, Nawrocki signed an eight-point pledge prepared by far-right leader Slawomir Mentzen.

The election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals.

While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to only own one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man.

A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard.

Nawrocki called the accusations "a bunch of lies" and said he would sue the news site.

Nawrocki was born in the port city of Gdansk, where he played football and boxed in his youth and went on to earn a PhD in history and an MBA.

He served as the director of the World War II museum in Gdansk from 2017 to 2021.

Since 2021, he has led the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) for investigating Nazi and communist-era crimes.

His research interests include Poland's anti-communist opposition, organised crime during the communist era and sports history.

Last year, Russia added Nawrocki to its wanted list for his alleged efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments in Poland.

Nawrocki said he obtained a gun licence and firearm after winding up in Russia's crosshairs.

- Dual identity -

Nawrocki has written several books, including one under a pen name that landed him in an unusual scandal.

In 2018, he secretly published a book about the communist-era gangster Nikodem Skotarczak using the pseudonym Tadeusz Batyr.

That same year, "Batyr" went on state television and with his face blurred and voice altered said Nawrocki had inspired his work.

Nawrocki for his part wrote on social media that Batyr had reached out to him for tips, adding: "He thanked me with an interesting book, which I recommend."

But local media recently uncovered that Batyr and Nawrocki were one and the same.

One TikTok user said: "Maybe they'll substitute Batyr for Nawrocki in the runoff. In any case, the one backs the other. That's two votes already."

Politicians from rival camps had a field day with the revelation.

Nawrocki has also been accused of links to gangsters and neo-Nazis.

He has dismissed the charges as "deep manipulation", saying his contacts with the individuals were for professional purposes.

"No one has ever heard a good word from me about Nazism," he said.

Nawrocki speaks English, and boxes in his spare time. He said Poland required "a strong president for tough times".

He has two children and an adult stepson with his wife, Marta.