1 of 2 Supporters of Law and Justice (PiS), in Poland, on October 15, 2023 — Photo: Aleksandra Szmigiel/Portal Supporters of Law and Justice (PiS), in Poland, on October 15, 2023 — Photo: Aleksandra Szmigiel/ Portal
The data shows that the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) is expected to win 36.8% of the vote, which would be equivalent to 200 MPs in the 460seat parliament.
The largest opposition group, the liberal Citizens’ Coalition (KO), was expected to receive 31.6% of the vote, giving it 163 seats.
2 of 2 Donald Tusk, opposition leader in Poland, waves to his supporters during a demonstration against the national government on October 1, 2023 Photo: Kacper Pempel/Portal Donald Tusk, opposition leader in Poland, waves to his supporters during a demonstration against the national government on October 1, 2023 Photo: Kacper Pempel/Portal
The centerright coalition of the Third Way and the New Left, which could form a coalition with KO, were estimated at 13% and 8.6%, respectively.
Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council, said democracy had triumphed and the Law and Justice (PiS) nationalists would be removed from power.
“I have never been happier in my life than today with this second place. Poland won. Democracy won. We removed them (PiS) from power,” he said.
Tusk also promised to improve Warsaw’s relations with Brussels, which have been marked by disputes over issues such as the rights of the LGBTQIA+ population and migration.
According to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the nationalists in power will try to form a stable government if the president wishes.
“If the president entrusts the formation of the government to the candidate of the winning party, we will try to build a stable government.”
Voter turnout in Poland’s parliamentary elections was probably the highest since the fall of communism in 1989, according to the head of the electoral commission.
“The turnout is probably the highest in the history of the Third Republic,” Sylwester Marciniak said at a news conference after an exit poll showed 72.9% popular turnout in the elections.