List of Presidents of Poland: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Poland from 1922 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Poland, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Poland: Karol Nawrocki (in office since 2025).

Presidents of Poland in order, with years in office

Gabriel Narutowicz

Served: 1922

First president of the Second Republic; he was assassinated on 16 December 1922, days after taking office.

Maciej Rataj

Served: 1922 (acting)

Marshal of the Sejm who acted as president after Narutowicz's assassination, and again briefly in May 1926.

Stanisław Wojciechowski

Served: 1922–1926

Resigned during Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 coup.

Ignacy Mościcki

Served: 1926–1939

Chemist who served until the German and Soviet invasion in September 1939.

Bolesław Bierut

Served: 1947–1952

Communist leader who headed the state as president until the office was replaced by a Council of State.

Aleksander Zawadzki

Served: 1952–1964

First chairman of the Council of State.

Edward Ochab

Served: 1964–1968

Chairman of the Council of State.

Marian Spychalski

Served: 1968–1970

Marshal of Poland and chairman of the Council of State.

Józef Cyrankiewicz

Served: 1970–1972

Former prime minister who became chairman of the Council of State.

Henryk Jabłoński

Served: 1972–1985

Historian and longest-serving chairman of the Council of State.

Wojciech Jaruzelski

Served: 1985–1990

General who was chairman of the Council of State from 1985 and president from July 1989 until Wałęsa's election.

Lech Wałęsa

Served: 1990–1995

Solidarity leader and first president elected by popular vote; Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1983.

Aleksander Kwaśniewski

Served: 1995–2005

Served two terms and oversaw Poland's accession to NATO and the European Union.

Lech Kaczyński

Served: 2005–2010

Died in the Smolensk air disaster on 10 April 2010.

Bronisław Komorowski

Served: 2010 (acting)

Marshal of the Sejm who acted as president after Kaczyński's death until he resigned the post in July 2010.

Grzegorz Schetyna

Served: 2010 (acting)

Acting Marshal of the Sejm who served as interim head of state until Komorowski's swearing-in on 6 August 2010.

Bronisław Komorowski

Served: 2010–2015

Won the July 2010 election and served until August 2015.

Andrzej Duda

Served: 2015–2025

Law and Justice candidate who served two terms.

Karol Nawrocki

Served: 2025–present

Historian and former head of the Institute of National Remembrance; he took office on 6 August 2025.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Poland

Who is the current president of Poland?

The current head of state of Poland is Karol Nawrocki, in office since 2025.

Who were the previous presidents of Poland?

The presidents and heads of state of Poland listed on this page, in order, are: Gabriel Narutowicz, Maciej Rataj, Stanisław Wojciechowski, Ignacy Mościcki, Bolesław Bierut, Aleksander Zawadzki, Edward Ochab, Marian Spychalski, Józef Cyrankiewicz, Henryk Jabłoński, Wojciech Jaruzelski, Lech Wałęsa, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Lech Kaczyński, Bronisław Komorowski, Grzegorz Schetyna, Bronisław Komorowski, Andrzej Duda, Karol Nawrocki.

Who was the first president of Poland?

Gabriel Narutowicz was the first president of Poland, in office 1922.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Poland; Archontology.org, Poland heads of state; Polish Radio and Polskie Radio reports on President Karol Nawrocki (checked Nov 2026). Heads of state of the Second Republic, the communist period and the Third Republic; acting presidents are labelled. Presidents of the government in exile (1939–1990) are not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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