Two days after the historic elections in Poland, the final results have now been determined. Although the ruling PiS party remains the strongest force, the liberal-conservative electoral alliance comes in second; the alliance of three opposition parties will therefore control the majority of parliamentary seats in the future.
The election commission in Warsaw announced this on Tuesday after all votes had been counted. 30.7 percent voted for the largest opposition alliance, the liberal-conservative Citizens’ Coalition (KO) of former Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The KO plans a government coalition with the Christian-conservative Third Way (14.4 percent) and the left-wing Lewica alliance (8.61 percent). The three-party alliance has 248 of a total of 460 seats and therefore a majority of the mandates.
PiS clearly loses its absolute majority
According to the electoral commission, the PiS received 35.38 percent of the votes and will be the strongest force in the new parliament with 194 members. However, for a government majority it would be dependent on a coalition partner. Only the ultra-right Konfederacja would qualify for this, but it received 7.16 percent and 18 seats – which is not enough for a majority.
Voter turnout at the elections is at its highest
The opposition also won the majority of seats in the Senate, the less important second chamber of parliament. The ‘Senate Pact’ alliance, which includes independent candidates in addition to the KO, the Third Way and the left-wing Lewica alliance, won 66 seats, while the PiS took the remaining 34 seats.
The turnout in the elections was 74.38 percent – the highest figure since the end of communism in 1989. The PiS’s good result in the last elections was also explained by the low turnout at the time.
Former President of the EU Council with a key role
Tusk now has the key role. The former president of the EU Council can forge a government out of KO, Third Way and the New Left – and end the ongoing dispute with Brussels. The 66-year-old has a good chance of becoming prime minister and replacing the incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki. The potential partners had recently indicated that they wanted to start discussions as soon as the end result is available. However, observers expect the process to take months.
Relations with the EU need to be strengthened
This is probably also thanks to Polish President Andrzej Duda, himself from the PiS camp. He could first give the PiS, as the strongest individual party, the task of forming a new government. He announced this before the eagerly awaited elections. It is a political custom in Poland, but not mandatory, that a representative of the strongest political camp receives the assignment.
Tusk has promised to improve relations with the EU again. For years, the country has suffered greatly from disputes over judicial reforms, gay rights and migration issues. Critics accuse the PiS of undermining the independence of the courts and the media since it took office in 2015. As a result, the EU has frozen around 110 billion euros in funds intended for Poland.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
