The opposition leader, Donald Tusk, who emerged victorious in Poland’s parliamentary election, has called on President Andrzej Duda to make prompt and decisive decisions in order to facilitate the formation of a new government. The combined efforts of three opposition parties secured over 54 percent of the votes in the recent parliamentary election, granting them the opportunity to assume power. It is now President Duda’s responsibility to evaluate the new political landscape and designate a new prime minister who will be tasked with assembling a government and obtaining parliamentary approval within a specified timeframe.
In a video statement, Donald Tusk urged President Duda to take energetic and swift action, emphasizing that the winning democratic parties are prepared to assume the responsibility of governing the country without delay. He underscored the anticipation of the public for the initial decisions that will be made following the election held on Sunday. President Duda, an ally of the conservative Law and Justice party, which has been in power since 2015, will remain in office until 2025.
Despite winning slightly over 35 percent of the votes, Law and Justice, the party in power for the past eight years, lost its parliamentary majority and appears unlikely to retain control. The voter turnout was exceptionally high at nearly 75 percent, surpassing even the 63 percent turnout in 1989, which signaled the end of the Soviet-backed communist regime.
Donald Tusk’s overwhelming victory in the election marks a significant accomplishment for the Civic Coalition, the largest opposition group. He is poised to potentially reclaim his former position as Prime Minister of Poland, a role he held from 2007 to 2014. Additionally, Tusk served as the European Council president, an influential role within the European Union, from 2014 to 2019. His party recorded its best-ever result in parliamentary elections in Poland, while Tusk himself secured more than half a million votes in his bid for a seat in parliament.
Law and Justice received slightly over 35 percent of the votes, while the right-wing Confederation party, a possible ally, obtained around 7 percent. The three opposition groups collectively secured 53.7 percent of the votes, guaranteeing a comfortable majority of 248 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, known as the Sejm. Civic Coalition obtained 30.7 percent of the vote, followed by the Third Way with 14.4 percent and the New Left with 8.6 percent. In contrast, Law and Justice will only hold 194 seats, falling far short of the majority it maintained for eight years.
Although the Confederation party managed to increase its representation from 11 to 18 seats in the outgoing parliament, it had hoped for a more substantial gain following a brief surge in the polls over the summer. Furthermore, the opposition, which previously held a narrow majority in the Senate, now commands a significant 66 out of 100 seats. While the Senate wields less influence than the Sejm, it possesses some power over the legislative process, leaving Law and Justice with only 34 seats.
While the voting process has concluded, it may take several weeks before a new government is formed. President Duda is required to convene the first session of the new parliament within 30 days of the election and appoint a prime minister to establish a government. In the interim, the current government will continue to operate in a caretaker capacity.