Despite his troubles, Nawrocki strikes a chord with the nationalist, religious and more conservative voters who are PiS’s core supporters.
Adriana, 49, a teacher from Warsaw, says she’s been worse off with Trzaskowski as mayor since 2018.
“Nawrocki represents views close to mine: Christian, Catholic. Even if not everything about him appeals to me, at least I know who he is. With Trzaskowski, I don’t know what values he will say he stands for tomorrow,” she said, asking not to give her full name.
“I also think not all power should belong to the government coalition because I think they govern Poland poorly,” she added.
Attacking the mayor
Exploiting that sentiment, Nawrocki often calls Trzaskowski “Tusk’s deputy,” linking his rival to the government’s record on defense and security as well as unpopular EU policies on migration.
“I say no to the centers of immigrant integration. I want centers of deportation!” he told a rally on Saturday in the eastern city of Białystok, close to the Belarusian border.
