Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk intends to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his government following the victory of opposition-backed Karol Nawrocki in Sunday’s presidential election, he said Monday evening.
Nawrocki, a right-wing populist who counts U.S. President Donald Trump among his allies, will aim to use the presidency to block Tusk’s domestic agenda.
Tusk expressed openness to working with Nawrocki if he proves to be cooperative, but said it would be a “positive surprise” if that is the case.
Tusk is in a good position to survive the vote of confidence, first reported by Polsat, given the presidential election has had no bearing on parliamentary arithmetic — though there are rumblings of discontent among his ruling coalition.
The parties making up the Tusk-led coalition account for 242 MPs in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.
In response to the election of opposition-backed Karol Nawrocki as president on Sunday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Monday night that he plans to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his government.
“I want everyone to see that we are prepared for this situation, that we understand the gravity of the moment, but that we do not intend to take a single step back,” Tusk stated, referring to both domestic and foreign adversaries.
Nawrocki is a populist on the right who counts U. S. Trump and his supporters plan to use their position to thwart Tusk’s domestic agenda.
His election victory raises questions about whether Tusk’s administration can make significant strides toward restoring the rule of law, reforming social security, or addressing contentious issues like permitting same-sex relationships or easing Poland’s stringent abortion regulations.
Declaring that the presidential elections “have not changed and will change nothing,” Tusk pointed out that his administration has already dealt with a president who is uncooperative and that an emergency plan is in place to handle this situation.
Although it would be a “positive surprise” if Nawrocki turns out to be cooperative, Tusk stated that he would be open to working with him. Current President Andrzej Duda has blocked Tusk’s legislative attempts with his veto power.
Despite rumors of dissatisfaction within his ruling coalition, Tusk is well-positioned to survive the vote of confidence, which was first reported by Polsat. This is because the presidential election has never affected parliamentary math. In the lower house of parliament, which has 460 seats, the parties that make up the Tusk-led coalition have 242 Members of Parliament.
The election outcome was described as “a yellow card — maybe even a red one — for this government and this coalition” by Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of parliament and unsuccessful presidential candidate, on Monday afternoon. “.”.
This report was contributed to by Luiza Savage.
A revision has been made to this article.
