Polls opened in Poland’s landmark presidential election on Sunday (May 18) that will decide whether Warsaw follows the pro-European path set by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, or takes a step towards bringing back the nationalist admirers of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Voters in the capital Warsaw, underlined the need for unity in the government, between the ruling party and the president. The Polish president has limited executive powers but can veto legislation. That has allowed outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) ally, to stymie efforts by Tusk to undo judicial changes implemented under the PiS, which Tusk says hamper democracy.

"There's a lot of polarisation against PiS (Law and Justice) versus PO (Civic Platform). So it seems to me that there is some kind of hatred on both sides," 27-year-old sound engineer Wojtek said to Reuters at a polling station.

The election pits Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, from Tusk's Civic Coalition, against conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by PiS.

Polls in Poland opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. Around 29 million people are eligible to vote.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

WARSAW, POLAND (MAY 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS

2. VOTERS ARRIVING TO POLLING STATION

3. VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) WARSAW RESIDENT, MACIEJ KAWINSKI, SAYING:

“The most important thing is justice, the candidate's intelligence, their education—that's what should count.”

5. VARIOUS OF VOTERS IN POLLING STATION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) WARSAW RESIDENT, ANNA KAWINSKA, SAYING:

“For me, the most important thing is that there is unity of objective, which means the government and the president as one.”

7. VARIOUS OF VOTERS IN POLLING BOOTHS / CASTING BALLOTS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) WARSAW RESIDENT, BARBARA ZURAWSKA, SAYING:

“Well, it would be best to do something about housing for young people, because it's really hard for young people now. They live with their parents for a very long time, and it's hard to take out loans and repay them. Not everyone has this opportunity, right? That's the most important thing. And that young people can get into university easily, and that there are not only paid-for courses, but as many free courses as possible.”

9. VARIOUS OF VOTING UNDERWAY

10. (SOUNDBITE)(Polish) 27-YEAR-OLD SOUND ENGINEER, WOJTEK (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“Well, now there's a lot of polarisation of PiS (Law and Justice) versus PO (Civic Platform). So it seems to me that there is some kind of hatred on both sides, which I'm not a fan of.”

11. VARIOUS OF VOTING UNDERWAY

12. (SOUNDBITE)(Polish) 23-YEAR-OLD WARSAW RESIDENT, PATRYCJA MIKULSKA, SAYING:

“I think that first and foremost for me, right now, housing and the demands that voters, I mean candidates, are saying about the future for young people. For me, this is very important, and I was mainly guided by this.”

13. VARIOUS OF VOTING UNDERWAY