Unless there is a major surprise, it will not win Parliament’s confidence within the planned fifteen day period. But the Polish nationalist populist right still presented its minority government on Monday, November 27th. “We respect a constitutional custom by appointing a government proposed by the party that won the elections,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda, the Law and Justice party (PiS), after presenting the new government Mateusz Morawiecki.
After the likely setback for PiS, it will be the turn of the pro-European majority, led by Civic Coalition (KO, center) leader Donald Tusk, to form its government. In the parliamentary elections on October 15, PiS won the most seats in the lower house of parliament with 194 seats. But he was in the minority against the coalition of pro-European forces Citizen Coalition (KO), Third Voice (Trzecia Droga) and The Left (Lewica), which received 248 votes.
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Donald Tusk accuses President Duda of “playing for time”
Despite the election arithmetic, Mr Duda had entrusted Mr Morawiecki with the task of forming a government during the first session of the new assembly. The proposed cabinet includes both well-known figures, including Mariusz Blaszczak, who would remain defense minister, as well as experts unknown to the general public. Women hold half of the ministerial positions there.
However, since there is no majority and all other parliamentary forces have publicly refused to join the new government, it seems doomed to failure. Donald Tusk, former Liberal Prime Minister and former President of the European Council (2014-2019), should again present a government in this case.
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Mr Tusk condemned Mr Morawiecki’s appointment and accused President Duda, from the populist nationalist camp, of “playing for time” to postpone the political transition after eight years of PiS rule. “Like I said, they want to steal for a few more days,” Mr. Tusk told his supporters during a rally earlier this month.
For him, this decision “will not change anything,” suggesting that he himself will become prime minister again. Mr. Tusk was in office until 2014. The following year, PiS won the parliamentary elections and has been in power ever since.
Also read the editorial from “Le Monde”: Change in Poland, good news for Europe