No candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round of Poland's presidential election on Sunday, exit polls showed, leading to a runoff vote scheduled for June 1.
Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and candidate from the ruling Civic Coalition (KO), led the field with 30.8 percent of the vote, followed closely by Karol Nawrocki, an independent candidate backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, who received 29.1 percent. Slawomir Mentzen of the Confederation party came in third with 15.4 percent support.
Sunday's vote featured 13 candidates vying to succeed incumbent President Andrzej Duda, whose second term will end on June 8. More than 30,000 polling stations opened nationwide at 7:00 local time, with nearly 29 million registered voters eligible to cast ballots and help determine the country's political direction for the next five years.
"I don't know if I can say exactly who I voted for, but I believe that it's good for the government and the president to work together, to work hand in hand, not to create obstacles, one for the other," Monica, a voter in Warsaw, told CCTV. "I think in the current political and security situation, and in general in Poland's interest, it is to have good, smooth politics and creative and forward-looking people at the helm," she said.
Under Polish law, a presidential candidate must be a Polish citizen at least 35 years old and garner the support of no less than 100,000 registered voters through signatures in order to officially run for office.
A candidate who wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round will be elected president outright. If no one crosses that threshold, the top two contenders will proceed to a runoff 14 days later.
The Polish president is elected through a direct popular vote for a five-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms.
No candidate wins outright in first round of Poland's presidential election: exit polls
No candidate wins outright in first round of Poland's presidential election: exit polls
Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city.
Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes.
"I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong.
International tourists also shared their excitement.
"It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor.
The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000.
At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood.
As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday.
An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China.
"I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist.
Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers.
A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District.
The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts.
Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping.
"The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor.
China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations.
"On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.
Shenzhen embraces influx of visitors on first day of 2026
