Karol Nawrocki: Poland's conservative president-elect to be tough opponent for PM

Karol Nawrocki's new role is largely ceremonial, but he could still have a profound impact on Poland, including an early election.

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Nawrocki's supporters, the national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) opposition, feel re-energised after losing power 18 months ago to Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU coalition.

They view his success in Sunday's vote - by a margin of 50.9% - 49.1% over liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski - as the first step to a return to power.

Poland's president has limited influence on foreign and defence policy, but can propose and veto bills. Tusk's government lacks a big enough parliamentary majority to overturn a presidential veto.

The outgoing conservative president, Andrzej Duda, has used his blocking powers and the threat of using them to prevent the prime minister from delivering on many of his key campaign promises.