2023-10-15 19:50:47
The lack of a majority for the currently ruling party, PiS, raises the possibility that the liberal opposition will seek to form a government coalition.
The nationalists in power in Poland came first in the legislative elections this Sunday, but without a majorityaccording to exit polls, which suggests the possibility that the liberal opposition will seek to form a government coalition.
The Ipsos exit poll gives the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party 36.8% of the vote, which would translate to 200 lawmakers in the 460-seat parliament. The main opposition group, the Civic Platform (KO), is expected to win 31.6% of the vote, giving it 163 seats. With the center-right coalition Third Way and the New Left, which might form a coalition with the KO, it would obtain 248 seats. Official results will begin arriving later this Sunday evening.
“Democracy has won”
The leader of the KO, Donald Tusk, former president of the European Council, promised to repair relations between Warsaw and Brussels, which have been strained by numerous clashes over issues such as the independence of the judiciary, LGBT rights and immigration. “Democracy has won… It’s the end of the PiS government“, Mr. Tusk told members of his party on Sunday evening.
“Democracy has won… This is the end of the PiS government.”
Critics say that since coming to power in 2015, PiS strengthened political influence on the courts and transformed state media into propaganda organs. Some €110 billion in EU funds intended for Poland have been frozen due to rule of law concerns.
PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told representatives gathered at the party headquarters in central Warsaw that he was not not certain that Sunday’s result will result in a new mandate. “We must remain hopeful,” Mr. Kaczynski said.
With the war raging in neighboring Ukraine and the migrant crisis looming, the EU and Washington were watching the vote closely, although PiS and its main opposition support Poland’s key rolea NATO member, in providing military and logistical support to kyiv.
The PiS had presented the election as a choice between security and unhindered migration, which his opponents support, and a creeping Westernization, which he considers contrary to the Catholic character of Poland. The PiS, which denies any wrongdoing, affirms that its reforms aim to make the country and its economy more equitable while eliminating the last vestiges of communism. He has built his support on generous welfare payments, which he says rival parties will end.
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