Polish prosecutor investigates possible poisoning of President Nawrocki during 2025 election campaign

The incident

On 15 May 2025, Karol Nawrocki, then the PiS presidential candidate and head of the Institute of National Remembrance, was campaigning in Ząbkowice Śląskie and Dzierżoniów, Lower Silesia. After a short speech he felt a sudden weakness, which he later likened to a punch to the jaw, and lost consciousness in the campaign bus. His staff described violent vomiting, uncontrolled body movements and a scene they compared to the film The Exorcist.

“I ended my speech and suddenly felt something very wrong. Sudden weakness, as if I’d received a solid punch to the jaw.”

Nawrocki’s account in the book

In the interview-book Skąd się wziął Karol Nawrocki (Where Did Karol Nawrocki Come From) with historian Andrzej Nowak, Nawrocki describes the episode in graphic detail. He says he lost consciousness after lying on the rear seat and woke to find his aides pale and his clothes drenched in vomit. He also reveals that his security detail had earlier warned him not to kiss women’s hands, suggesting it could be a method of poisoning.

“The bus, the whole suit, everything – completely splattered with my violent vomit. They later said it looked like a fountain, they compared it to the film *The Exorcist* – I kicked my legs, I was thrown around, I vomited compulsively.”

Prosecutor opens inquiry

On 29 June 2026, the Świdnica District Prosecutor’s Office announced it had launched an inquiry (postępowanie sprawdzające) into possible exposure of Karol Nawrocki to direct danger of death or grievous bodily harm during the 2025 campaign. Spokesman Mariusz Pindera said the decision was based on media reports and that the investigation is at a very preliminary stage.

“This is a very preliminary phase of the proceedings. We do not yet have additional information.”

Reactions and implications

The publication of the book excerpt by portal wpolityce.pl sparked immediate public discussion. Co-author Prof. Andrzej Nowak said in a video that he believes the incident was a deliberate poisoning attempt aimed at eliminating Nawrocki from the race at a moment when he was heading for victory. Government spokesman Dobrzyński stated that he had not heard that the president had formally reported the episode.