Poland’s populist right-winger Karol Nawrocki sparked fresh debate by using snus, a small dose of nicotine placed on the gum, during his televised debate with rival Rafał Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor of Warsaw, on May 23.

Images of Nawrocki using snus quickly went viral, giving the Law and Justice (PiS)-backed candidate the kind of exposure that could either help or hinder his chances in the second round of Poland’s presidential election on June 1.

Nawrocki and Trzaskowski are locked in a fierce battle after advancing from the first round on May 18. Trzaskowski narrowly led with 31.4%, while Nawrocki’s unexpectedly strong showing saw him secure 29.5%.

The strong performances by far-right contenders Sławomir Mentzen, with 15%, and Grzegorz Braun, with 6%, reshaped the electoral landscape. Together, they outpaced the centrist and leftist candidates, who collectively earned just 14%.

The snus incident overshadowed substantive policy discussions, as far as the debate’s rapid-fire format allowed, and once again highlighted Nawrocki’s unusual behaviour.

Earlier in the campaign, the media exposed Nawrocki’s controversial takeover of an apartment from an elderly man (which he later donated to charity) and his involvement in a football hooligan brawl, an incident he partially admitted to while attempting to frame it as “worthwhile physical exercise.”

Nawrocki’s use of snus came just as legislation banning it passed through parliament and now awaits the president’s final sign-off – unless Nawrocki wins.

Polls currently show Trzaskowski and Nawrocki neck and neck, with a razor-thin margin of error and last-minute shifts in voter behaviour or turnout likely to determine the result. The first round saw a record turnout of nearly 67%.

Mentzen has emerged as a pivotal figure in the run-off, with both candidates appearing on his YouTube channel. Nawrocki agreed to Mentzen’s proposals without hesitation, while Trzaskowski resisted, aiming not to alienate centrist and leftist voters or be perceived as an opportunist.

After their livestream, Trzaskowski and Mentzen were seen sharing a pint in a Mentzen-owned pub, causing a social media stir with an unclear impact on Mentzen’s supporters.

Beyond Nawrocki’s use of snus, the debate exposed broader political stakes. Tusk, leader of Trzaskowski’s Civic Coalition, needs a Trzaskowski victory to advance his reform agenda, stalled for two years by outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally.

A Nawrocki win could allow PiS to obstruct Tusk’s plans until the 2027 parliamentary elections, offering the party a chance to criticise the government for inefficiency.

Nawrocki’s strategy focuses on consolidating far-right support and counting on liberal voters disillusioned with Tusk to abstain from voting.

Trzaskowski faces a more complex challenge: mobilising his base while appealing to both far-right and left-leaning voters. Adrian Zandberg of the left-wing party Razem, who secured nearly 5% in the first round and has criticised both camps, has not endorsed Trzaskowski, suggesting that the mayor must present strong social justice proposals to win over leftist voters.

Trzaskowski attempted to do so, but his efforts did not match the scale of his appearance with Mentzen on YouTube.

“Your mobilisation is essential because \[this election] will really be a razor-thin margin.

“Choose a president who simply likes people. Choose a president who respects others. Choose a president for whom values like honesty and ordinary human decency are principles that guide his life,” Trzaskowski said.

Nawrocki concluded by warning of “one man controlling everything in Poland,” referring to Tusk. PiS, however, had itself consolidated power during its two terms with Duda as president.