Pollster survey shows Polish president approval falls to 44% as first lady drops 17 points

Pollster survey results for the presidential couple

A public opinion poll conducted by the Pollster Research Institute for the Super Express daily on 21–22 September 2026 recorded a decline in positive assessments for both Polish President Karol Nawrocki and First Lady Marta Nawrocka. The survey was carried out on a representative sample of 1,029 adult Polish citizens. According to the published data, 44% of respondents evaluate Karol Nawrocki's presidential activity positively, while 39% express a negative opinion. This represents a decrease of 3 percentage points in positive ratings for the head of state compared to the preceding survey in August.

The survey recorded a more pronounced drop in public evaluations of First Lady Marta Nawrocka. Positive assessments of her activity fell to 47% in September, dropping by 17 percentage points from the 64% recorded in August. At the same time, 15% of respondents evaluate her performance negatively. The share of respondents with a positive view of the first lady remains more than three times larger than the share holding a negative opinion, maintaining a net positive balance for both members of the presidential couple.

Expert assessment of political factors

Political marketing specialist Dr. Sergiusz Trzeciak analyzed the factors behind the shift in presidential ratings in an interview with Super Express. Trzeciak pointed to the fallout from the Zondacrypto affair alongside the escalating political confrontation between the Presidential Palace and the ruling government coalition. He noted that institutional disputes and the blocking of cabinet decisions have placed the presidency into a defensive posture, where arguments presented by the governing coalition reach uncommitted voters more effectively.

It seems that in the case of Karol Nawrocki, the confusion around the Zondacrypto affair as well as the growing conflict with the government and the blocking of the rulers' decisions could have had an impact. Being on the defensive, it is difficult for Nawrocki to defend himself, while the arguments of the ruling coalition are more convincing to less engaged voters.

Trzeciak added that despite these challenges among the broader public, the president has maintained and consolidated his standing within specific voter segments. He noted that Nawrocki continues to gain political support across broad right-wing circles.

Strategy for the first lady and public engagement

In his analysis of Marta Nawrocka's standing, Trzeciak noted that her public evaluations tend to fluctuate based on media visibility, specific interviews, and public statements. Although her positive ratings remain more than three times higher than her negative ones, her overall approval decreased sharply from the previous month. He advised that the first lady should develop a distinct and focused public profile built around recognizable social causes.

The first lady should take care of her image and focus on concrete activity that will register in the awareness of Poles. Jolanta Kwaśniewska was great at creating an image.

Comparative standing in CBOS trust metrics

The Pollster survey follows broader polling trends measured across late summer by the Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS). In its study titled "Trust in politicians at the end of August", CBOS reported that Karol Nawrocki retained the lead in its national trust ranking, with 51% of respondents expressing trust in the president. This figure represented a 4 percentage point drop from his trust level in July.

The CBOS research also documented shifting trends between Poland's main political blocs following a dip recorded in July. The end of the summer vacation period coincided with improved ratings for politicians representing the governing coalition, while opposition figures experienced slight deteriorations in their public trust scores.