Poland's Parliament Secures New Government Under Donald Tusk
In a 201-to-201 vote, Poland's parliament confirmed Donald Tusk's new government, marking the end of the Polish incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's PiS government's eight-year reign. The confirmation came two months after the political elections, with the Civic Coalition, led by Tusk, and other opposition parties, including the Third Way and the Left-wing alliance, securing a majority of seats in the parliament.
The Delayed Transfer of Power
Three political parties, Tusk's liberal-conservative Civic Coalition, the Christian-conservative Third Way, and the Left-wing alliance Lewica, won a majority in the parliamentary elections on October 15, 2023. However, the previous national-conservative PiS government, supported by President Andrzej Duda, delayed the transfer of power for as long as possible.
Tusk Addresses Parliament
In parliament on Monday, Tusk addressed his fellow politicians, stating, "It is a great day for all those who have firmly believed over these long years that things would get better, that we would drive out the darkness..." Starting tomorrow, we will be able to right all wrongs so that everyone in Poland can feel at home."
The Conservative PiS's Final Struggle
Morawiecki's attempt to form a new cabinet failed in parliament, as expected. Only 190 MPs voted in favor, whereas 266 voted against, signaling the end of the PiS's power.
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The Confirmation of Tusk's Government
Poland's parliament, recognizing the election outcome, firmly supported Tusk's new government, with the Civic Coalition and Third Way winning a clear majority of votes against Morawiecki's PiS-led government. The new government's confirmation signaled the end of the PiS's over eight-year tenure in power.
Enrichment Insights:
- Election Outcome (2023): PiS, despite securing 35% of the vote, failed to secure a ruling majority in the Sejm, the Polish parliament. The Civic Coalition, led by Donald Tusk, formed a majority coalition government with the Third Way and the Left-wing alliance.
- Transition Process: Morawiecki was initially given the opportunity to form a new government by President Andrzej Duda. However, the lack of support from other parties caused his caretaker government to lose a vote of confidence in December 2023. The Sejm elected Donald Tusk as the new prime minister by a vote of 248–201.
- Post-Power Transfer Developments: The new government has taken several bold steps, including the arrest of former heads of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and summoning PiS leaders for questioning to address corruption and undermine PiS's influence.
- EU Funding and Relations: The new government has benefited from increased EU funding, receiving approximately €6.3 billion as a payout of frozen funds due to rule-of-law concerns by the EU under the previous administration.
- Political Climate and Future Elections: The highly politicized 2025 presidential election will likely see PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki competing against Rafał Trzaskowski from Tusk's Civic Platform. The election outcome will significantly impact the new government's future policies.
