Polish Presidential Candidate Nawrocki Allegedly Poisoned

The probe, initiated by prosecutors in the southwestern city of Świdnica, will assess whether there are sufficient grounds to open a full criminal investigation into whether Nawrocki’s life or health was deliberately endangered, according to Brussels Signal.

The investigation follows publication by the website wPolityce.pl of extracts from an upcoming book-length interview titled “Where Did Karol Nawrocki Come From?” conducted by historian Andrzej Nowak, set for official release in July this year.

In the published excerpts, Nawrocki, then a candidate backed by the opposition Conservatives (PiS) party, describes a harrowing incident after a campaign rally in the town of Ząbkowice in Silesia on 15 May 2025.

I was in a truly critical situation then, the President recounted, describing a moment of terror he says remains vivid in his memory.

According to the account, Nawrocki lost consciousness on his campaign bus following a brief five-minute speech outside the town hall. He awoke to find aides surrounding him, his suit and the vehicle covered in vomit after several minutes of violent convulsions.

The President described feeling as though someone had suddenly “switched off his body” immediately after finishing his remarks. Despite the sudden weakness, which he compared to taking a solid blow to the jaw—a reference to his background as a former amateur boxing champion from the Gdańsk region—he attempted to maintain his composure, waving to supporters and speaking to them before requesting water and asking to be led to the coach.

What followed was described by his security guards as scenes resembling a horror film. Nawrocki recalled his body jerking, his legs kicking involuntarily, and compulsive vomiting.

The President acknowledged that from the campaign’s outset, his security detail had cautioned him against certain practices, including kissing female voters’ hands, warning this could be exploited as a method of administering poison. Despite these warnings, Nawrocki confirmed he did not alter his behavior, viewing direct physical contact with supporters as essential to his campaign strategy.

While Nawrocki himself stops short of definitively stating he was poisoned in the published excerpts, describing instead the symptoms and circumstances of what he calls “something he still treats very seriously,” co-author Professor Nowak has been more direct in his assessment.

Nowak suggested during an appearance on Polish media that someone attempted to poison Nawrocki to eliminate him from the race at a moment when victory appeared within reach, raising the possibility of an assassination attempt.

Prosecutors in Świdnica confirmed they are examining media reports regarding Nawrocki’s sudden health deterioration and brief loss of consciousness, stating this “may have resulted from the administration of substances endangering his life or health.”

According to Nawrocki’s security chiefs, the President refused to be taken to hospital or to have an ambulance called. The security team reluctantly agreed since he was conscious and appeared to be recovering.

Zbigniew Bogucki, Nawrocki’s chief of staff, told reporters last week that the situation had been “secured in keeping with the rhythm of the campaign” and that Nawrocki had “focused on the campaign” rather than seeking medical attention. He declined to speculate on whether a poisoning attempt had occurred, stating only that the matter is now for prosecutors to investigate.

Former PiS Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki suggested the “ruling camp” could “go to extremes” against opponents, though he cautioned he had yet to see all the evidence.

The investigation comes amid heightened political tensions in Poland, with questions now mounting over security protocols during the campaign and whether a deliberate attack was carried out against a candidate who ultimately went on to win the presidency.

With information from Brussels Signal