After just under two months since Poland's parliamentary elections, new Prime Minister-designate Donald Tusk will unveil his cabinet and give a government statement today. This afternoon, Tusk will confront a vote of confidence in parliament. Scheduled for the following morning at 9 a.m., President Andrej Duda is set to officially swear in Tusk, marking the completion of the power transition. Recent events led to Tusk's appointment as head of government upon Monday's parliament vote.
Poland's parliamentary election on October 15, 2023, saw Law and Justice (PiS) remain the most powerful party, although they fell short of an outright majority. The Democratic Coalition, led by Tusk, the Third Way alliance, and the Left alliance united to seize a majority of 248 seats in the Sejm.
Initially, the PiS and Duda, from its ranks, postponed the handover of power for as long as was constitutionally feasible. Duda initially tasked the previous Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki with crafting a new government, which held power for only two weeks before Morawiecki failed to secure confidence in the vote, necessitating Tusk's appointment.
Tusk previously served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2014. His new administration is expected to signal a change in the relationship with the European Union (EU) and neighboring Germany. The PiS's confrontation with Brussels mostly stemmed from backsliding on the rule of law, while the conservative policy in recent years has taken on Sharp anti-German tones.
Over the eight years of PiS government since 2015, Polish voters first strongly supported the social policy that benefited several families. However, the PiS government, led by its chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski, eventually alienated many women in Poland. The party's tightening of the abortion law and voter concerns regarding the country's legal system prior to the election contributed to voter turnout reaching almost 75% on October 15.
Poland has significantly increased its influence in the EU and NATO due to its steadfast support for Ukraine as it faces attacks from Russia.
Sources:
- www.stern.de
- Additional insights provided from enrichment data.
