Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for a vote of confidence in his pro-European Union government following his camp’s narrow loss in the recent presidential election. The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, is expected to be a formality given Tusk’s coalition holds a 12-seat majority in the lower house of parliament, the Sejm.
Tusk emphasized that his government faces “greater challenges” due to the election of Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing nationalist supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) opposition. Nawrocki’s presidency is likely to pose significant hurdles for Tusk’s government, particularly in pushing through reforms. “I’m asking you for a vote of confidence because I have the conviction, faith and certainty that we have a mandate to govern, to take full responsibility for what is happening in Poland,” Tusk said. He added that his government would face “two and a half years, in difficult conditions, of full mobilisation and full responsibility”.
Despite the challenges ahead, Tusk highlighted his government’s achievements, including increased defense spending and a tougher stance on migration. He also pointed to a recently signed bilateral treaty with France, where both countries have pledged to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack. This, he argued, demonstrates Poland’s return to Europe’s top table. Tusk received a standing ovation from his own benches after his speech.
However, issues important to the government’s small left-wing coalition partner were notably absent from Tusk’s speech. There was no mention of his campaign promise to allow legal abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, a move that would likely be vetoed by President-elect Nawrocki, following the precedent set by his predecessor Andrzej Duda.
Tusk’s government has also struggled to deliver on another key promise – removing political influence from Polish courts – due to Duda’s vetoes. The European Commission took legal action against Poland and withheld EU funds, which were later released after Tusk’s government promised to reform the judiciary.
Tusk’s confidence vote is seen as an attempt to regain momentum and put his government on the front foot after a stinging presidential election defeat. “The vote of confidence should be a new opening,” Tusk said, describing it as an offensive move rather than a defensive one. Despite the expected outcome of the vote, the real challenge for Tusk lies ahead, navigating the complexities of Polish politics with a potentially hostile president.