Polish Government Survives Confidence Vote Amid Presidential Election Fallout

Poland's pro-European coalition government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has won a vote of confidence after a setback in the presidential election. The government, which has 242 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house, has a mandate to take full responsibility for governing Poland. Tusk listed higher defense spending and cuts in migrant visas as major achievements and promised to continue efforts to roll back judicial reforms implemented by the previous nationalist government.

WARSAW, Poland (Reuters) — Poland's pro-European coalition government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has successfully navigated a vote of confidence following a setback in the recent presidential election. The government, which commands a majority of 242 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house, has secured a mandate to govern the country [1].

The vote of confidence was requested by Tusk in response to the June 1 runoff presidential election, where nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki defeated Rafal Trzaskowski, a close ally of Tusk's Civic Coalition. The loss of Trzaskowski, who was backed by Tusk, has caused internal divisions within the coalition and raised concerns about the government's future [2].

In his address to parliament ahead of the vote, Tusk highlighted several achievements of his administration, including increased defense spending and a reduction in the issuance of visas for migrants. He also reiterated his commitment to rolling back judicial reforms implemented by the previous nationalist government, which have been criticized by the European Union for undermining judicial independence [1].

Despite the challenges posed by the incoming president, who is openly hostile to the government's legislative priorities, Tusk argued that the election results indicate continued strong support for the coalition's centrist, pro-European stance. He emphasized the need for unity and called on his coalition partners to move forward together to build a better Poland [2].

The vote of confidence is widely expected to go in favor of the government, with Tusk's four-party coalition holding a narrow but stable majority in the Sejm. However, the election result has shaken the already uneasy governing coalition, which has struggled to deliver on key campaign pledges such as liberalizing abortion laws and legalizing same-sex civil unions [2].

As part of his fresh start, Tusk announced plans for a government reconstruction in July, which will include the appointment of a government spokesman in June. This move is intended to present a unified message and address the growing strains within the coalition [2].

The vote of confidence comes at a critical juncture for Poland, as the country grapples with political divisions and economic challenges. The incoming president, Nawrocki, is set to replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, who has repeatedly blocked Tusk's reform efforts. The outcome of the vote will have significant implications for Poland's political landscape and its relations with the European Union [2].

References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Polish-government-wins-confidence-vote-after-presidential-election-blow-50208362/
[2] https://apnews.com/article/poland-politics-tusk-confidence-vote-a498cc51b5f79d9da1c5bdba10cebe2a