The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, today swore in the new cabinet of the previous conservative national prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, although his PiS party does not have a governing majority in parliament. Duda said at the ceremony at Warsaw’s Presidential Palace that he was pleased with the high proportion of women and the many younger members of the cabinet.
The formation of the PiS government is seen as pure political spectacle. Apart from him and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Morawiecki’s new cabinet does not contain any prominent PiS politicians, but rather many previously unknown faces.
In the parliamentary elections on October 15, three pro-European parties from the previous opposition, led by former EU Council President Donald Tusk, won a clear majority. A coalition agreement has already been signed.
But even taking into account this majority situation, President Duda, himself from the ranks of PiS, tasked Morawiecki with forming a government. Opposition representatives accuse Duda of wanting to prevent political change for weeks.
Morawiecki must now present a vote of confidence to parliament within 14 days. However, he does not have a majority and will likely fail. Only then will the former opposition be able to form its government.