By Marta Maciag, Canan Sevgili and Julia Kotowska
(Reuters) - Poland holds the second round of a presidential election on June 1, a major test for the pro-European government that will determine whether it can implement its agenda.
The vote pits Rafal Trzaskowski from the ruling centrist Civic Coalition (KO) against Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS).
Trzaskowski won 31.4% of the vote in the May 19 first round, with Nawrocki on 29.5%. Opinion polls indicate Sunday's vote will be very tight.
Here is a guide to the vote:
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Since it came to power in 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition has been trying to undo the previous Law and Justice government's judicial reforms that the European Union said eroded the rule of law and politicised the courts.
However, President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the Law and Justice party, has used his power of veto to block the government's proposals. His term ends on August 6. If Nawrocki succeeds him, the standoff will continue. If Trzaskowski wins, reforms to align Poland with EU norms are likely to proceed.
HOW DOES THE ELECTION WORK?
The second round is being held because no candidate scored more than 50% in the first round. Presidents can serve a maximum of two five-year terms.
Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. Exit polls will be published shortly afterwards. Partial results may trickle in throughout the evening on Sunday, or they may wait and report the final result on Monday.
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT ARE THEIR PLATFORMS?
The frontrunner, 53-year-old Trzaskowski, has been mayor of Warsaw since 2018. He was narrowly defeated by Duda in the 2020 presidential vote.
Trzaskowski's main proposals include developing Poland's arms and technology industry, ensuring the country has a strong position in the European Union and introducing civil partnerships for LGBT couples.
Conservative historian, Nawrocki, 42, ran the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, in northern Poland in 2017-21, and now heads Poland's Institute of National Remembrance.
He wants to see lower taxes, a withdrawal from the European Union's Migration Pact and Green Deal, and is critical of giving more rights to LGBT couples.
Both candidates are pledging to allocate 5% of GDP to defence in response to concern over Russia's war in Ukraine and warnings from President Donald Trump that Europe should no longer rely on the U.S. for its defence.
(Reporting by Marta Maciag, Canan Sevgili and Julia Kotowska; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
