In Poland there are signs of a change of power: three opposition parties could form the new government. Now the ball is in President Andrzej Duda’s court. He must give the order to form a government.
According to the official final results, an alliance of three opposition parties won a majority of parliamentary seats in Poland’s election. The election commission in Warsaw announced this on Tuesday after all votes were counted. The national conservative ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) will be the strongest force in the new parliament, but missed an absolute majority.
30.7 percent voted for the largest opposition alliance, the liberal-conservative Citizens’ Coalition (KO) of former Prime Minister Donald Tusk – making it the second strongest force. The KO is planning a government coalition with the Christian-conservative Third Way (14.4 percent) and the left-wing alliance Lewica (8.61 percent). The three-party alliance has 248 of the total 460 seats and thus a majority of the mandates.
Highest voter turnout in Poland since the end of communism
According to the electoral commission, the PiS received 35.38 percent of the vote and, with 194 members, will be the strongest force in the new parliament. However, it would be dependent on a coalition partner for a government majority. Only the ultra-right Konfederacja would be eligible for this, but it got 7.16 percent and 18 seats – that’s not enough for a majority.
The opposition also won the majority of seats in the Senate, the less important second chamber of parliament. The “Senate Pact” alliance, which also includes independent candidates alongside the KO, the Third Way and the left-wing Lewica alliance, won 66 seats, with the PiS accounting for the remaining 34.
Voter turnout was 74.38 percent – the highest since the end of communism in 1989.
In a next step, President Andrzej Duda must now give a politician the order to form a government. It is political custom in Poland, but not mandatory, that a representative of the strongest political camp receives this assignment. That’s why observers in Warsaw assume that Duda, who is close to the national conservatives, will initially give the job to a PiS politician. This could delay the process of forming a government by several weeks.
Note: This article has been updated and supplemented.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
