Poland’s Incumbent President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded election defeat to challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls.

The exit polls suggested conservative Andrzej Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%.

Andrzej Duda had edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite, in the first round but did not gain the 50% needed to win outright.

Poland’s president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

The exit polls had been delayed after a woman died at a polling station on May 24.

Official results are expected on May 25.

Bronislaw Komorowski told voters at a gathering of his supporters: “I respect your choice.

“I wish my challenger a successful presidency.”

Speaking to supporters in Warsaw, Andrzej Duda said: “Thank you President Bronislaw Komorowski for the rivalry of this presidential campaign and for your congratulations.

“Those who voted for me voted for change. Together we can change Poland.”

The victory will be a wake-up call to PM Ewa Kopacz, an ally of Bronislaw Komorowski, ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.

Bronislaw Komorowski, 62, took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.

He had been the favorite according to previous opinion polls and had been looking for a second term.

Andrzej Duda, 43, is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Lech Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

In the first round Andrzej Duda attracted most support in the more conservative eastern regions of the country, near the border with Ukraine and Belarus.

Polish voters are going to the polls on May 24 to choose its new president in a run-off vote.

In the first round on May 10, neither Conservative challenger Andrzej Duda nor incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski gained the 50% needed to win outright.

Andrzej Duda edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite and is looking for a second term, by 34.7% to 33.7%.

Poland’s president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

Bronislaw Komorowski, 62, took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.

The incumbent president is an independent allied with the centre-right Civic Platform, which has been in government since 2007.

Opinion polls before the first round had put him comfortably in the lead and Bronislaw Komorowski said the result was “a serious warning for the entire team in power”.

Andrezj Duda, 43, is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Lech Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

He attracted most support in the more conservative eastern regions of the country, near the border with Ukraine and Belarus.

The presidential vote comes ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.