Harbingers’ Magazine is a weekly online current affairs magazine written and edited by teenagers worldwide.

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har·bin·ger | \ˈhär-bən-jər\

1. one that initiates a major change: a person or thing that originates or helps open up a new activity, method, or technology; pioneer.

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Poland’s 2025 Presidential Election Newsroom

Ten students from the 2nd SLO in Warsaw, Poland, came together to form a newsroom that will cover the Polish presidential election that will be happening in May 2025.

The newsroom, edited by 16 year-old Klara Hammudeh with support from the Oxford School for the Future of Journalism, aims to provide regular, up-to-date coverage of the election that may break the political deadlock holding Poland since the general election in October 2023.

Editor

Klara

Hammudeh

Politics Section Editor 2025

Warsaw, Poland

Writers

Maja

Dobrosielska

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Pola

Gudowicz

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Sonia

Rybus

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Aleksandra

Tomaszewska

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Igor

Rybkowski

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Franek

Józefowicz

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Antoni

Popczyński

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Mateusz

Sarna

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Tomasz

Morek

Contributor

Warsaw, Poland

Featured articles:

polish newsroom

Why the Polish right keeps winning: Exclusive interview with Andrzej Leder

As Poland heads into the presidential election next Sunday (18 May), Andrzej Leder – philosopher and professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences – explains why right-wing parties continue to gain ground, not just in Poland, but across much of Europe

The Polish Newsroom interviews the philosopher on the rightward shift in Polish politics and the crisis of masculinity

polish newsroom

How will the election impact Poland’s relationship with the EU?

The upcoming presidential election in Poland is crucial not only for the country itself, but for the future of the European Union as a whole. Ultimately, it will determine whether the country will draw closer to Brussels or take a path of isolationism and confrontation, leading to the possibility of ‘Polexit’ – Poland exiting the EU

Antoni Popczyński and Mateusz Sarna, both 15, investigate candidates’ attitudes towards the EU

polish newsroom

The ‘Trump effect’? How US politics impact the Polish presidential elections

Originally, it seemed that in Poland’s own presidential election it would be Law and Justice that would benefit the most from Trump’s victory, but in recent weeks the situation has changed drastically. The frontrunner remains Rafał Trzaskowski of Civic Platform

Pola Gudowicz and Maja Dobrosielska, both 16, explain how the US is affecting candidates’ chances

polish newsroom

War next door: What are the candidates’ stances on the war in Ukraine?

One of the key questions Polish citizens will ask themselves before they vote in the presidential election on 18 May is how the result will influence Poland’s policy towards the conflict in Ukraine. The war between Russia and Ukraine is now in its fourth year, and Poland has borders with both these countries, so the subject is of major concern for Poles

Sonia Rybus and Aleksandra Tomaszewska, both 15, explain why the war in Ukraine is a key factor in the election

polish newsroom

Could far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen make the second round?

Rafał Trzaskowski, who is also the mayor of Warsaw, currently looks as if he is unbeatable with his 12% lead, but there is the still the third main contender, Slawomir Mentzen – who could still prove to be a big obstacle. Mentzen represents the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) party, and his numbers have also risen recently

15-year-old Franciszek Józefowicz assesses the three main candidates for president, according to the latest polls

polish newsroom

Why is Russia trying to influence Poland’s presidential elections?

In Poland, the Kremlin aims to discredit the NATO military alliance and the EU by portraying them as corrupt organisations. Furthermore, it claims Poland is following the American political agenda while assigning blame for any economic challenges to Western policies, rather than to Russian aggression on Ukraine

Tomasz Morek and Igor Rybkowski, both 15, break down Russian misinformation in Poland

polish newsroom

Mentzen closes on Nawrocki, raises questions about generational change on Poland’s far right

Some polls already place Mentzen second, but in most he is third and closing the gap with the populist conservative Karol Nawrocki, who is supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) party that ruled Poland until 2023 and from where outgoing president Andrzej Duda originated

Franciszek Józefowicz and Mateusz Sarna, both 15, explain Confederation’s nationalist ambitions

polish newsroom

Between a rock and a hard place, Hołownia falls prey to persistent polarisation of Polish politics

In the last presidential election five years ago, Szymon Hołownia ran as an independent candidate and proved capable of gaining significant public support. Without backing from any political party, he received almost 14% of the votes in the first round, an impressive and unexpected result. However, Hołownia is not one of the most popular candidates in the 2025 race for president

Tomasz Morek and Igor Rybkowski, both 15, on the centrist politician’s fading prospects

polish newsroom

From veto to diplomacy, the 2025 presidential election can break the deadlock in Polish politics

The polling stations of the 2025 presidential election will open on Sunday 18 May. If none of the candidates secure more than 50% of the popular vote – and polls indicate that this will not be the case – the second and final round will take place on 1 June

Maja Dobrosielska and Pola Gudowicz, both 16, explain the role of the president in Poland’s constitutional system

politics

Will Rafał Trzaskowski repeat Kamala Harris’s errors?

For many, the only thing that comes to mind when they hear the name of Rafał Trzaskowski, is that he is the mayor of Warsaw. Becoming the mayor of Poland’s capital in 2018 has been the crowning achievement of his career so far, but in May, he will yet again attempt to win the highest office and become the next president of Poland

Aleksandra Tomaszewska and Sonia Rybus, both 15, explain the dilemma facing the Civic Platform candidate

polish newsroom

Karol Nawrocki has the support of Law and Justice, but lacks a clear agenda

Just a few months ago, not many of his current supporters even knew who Karol Nawrocki was. Law and Justice disadvantaged his standing even further by waiting for almost half a year before officially endorsing him. Currently, the little-known historian comes second in most polls, but his campaign faces many challenges, from consistency in messaging to the lack of a clear programme

15-year-old Antoni Popczyński profiles the candidate who would continue Andrzej Duda’s obstruction of Tusk’s agenda