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.

Although he did not make it to the second round, Hołownia translated this political capital into Polska 2050, a new liberal centrist party, which advocates for environmental sustainability, political transparency and economic modernisation. It is also trying to end the political duopoly – since 2007, Poland has been split between the populist right-wing party Law and Justice (PiS) and the liberal conservative party Civic Platform (PO).

However, Hołownia is not one of the most popular candidates in the 2025 race for president. In the latest poll, conducted by Ipsos for Poland’s public broadcaster TVP, his support of 6% put him in a distant fourth place after PO’s Rafał Trzaskowski (36%), PiS’s Karol Nawrocki (21%) and Sławomir Mentzen from the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) party (17%).

To maintain his position in Polish politics, Hołownia has to figure something out quickly to attract votes. Otherwise, he is likely to fall victim to the polarisation of the Polish political scene, where the gap between liberal and conservative voters is widening.

Before entering politics, Hołownia gained recognition as a journalist, writer and the co-host of the Polish edition of the Got Talent! TV show. Media appearances transformed him into a household name, but his commentary on religion and social issues, as well as engagement in Catholic charity work, eased his transition into politics. In his 2020 presidential bid, he successfully delivered an image built on ethics, and emphasising how he would be an alternative to both PO and PiS. This resonated with many Poles tired of the lack of options on the Polish political stage.

Between his 2020 presidential run and the 2023 parliamentary elections, Hołownia’s political capital remained stable. In 2023, he was one of the key figures that led the united opposition to victory, ending the eight-year rule of PiS. After the election, he assumed the prominent role of speaker of the Sejm, which came with media exposure and allowed him to make frequent use of his significant oratory skills. 

Hołownia’s current presidential bid seems much stronger than five years ago – he now holds one of the most important offices in Poland and has an organised political party backing him as well as access to public funding.

Arguably, Hołownia’s situation is difficult primarily because Poland’s political polarisation has proved too difficult to challenge – PiS, led by Jarosław Kaczyński, has the strong backing of conservative voters, while PO, led by prime minister Donald Tusk, has consolidated the liberal base. 

Polls also indicate that Hołownia will be replaced in third position by the nationalist, far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, representing the Confederation party, who appears to be attracting voters looking for an alternative to the established parties. After five years in politics, Hołownia appears to have lost his newcomer appeal.