In a significant political development, Polish President Andrzej Duda has entrusted the task of forming the new government to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. This decision was announced in a presidential address and is in keeping with the parliamentary tradition where the winning party is given the first opportunity to form a government.
President Duda’s address came ahead of the inaugural session of the new term of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament. He expressed pride in the high voter turnout of over 74% in the recent parliamentary elections, emphasizing it as a testament to the strength of democracy in Poland.
The President also appointed Marek Sawicki from the Polish People’s Party (PSL) as the Marshal Senior, a prestigious role leading the first session of the Sejm. Sawicki, a long-serving member of the Sejm for 30 years and a former Minister of Agriculture, is recognized for his commitment to dialogue and cooperation.
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The President’s decision comes at a time when no single electoral committee has won a majority. Following consultations with all political groups represented in the parliament, President Duda noted that both the Law and Justice party, which secured the most votes, and the Civic Coalition, which came in second, have presented their candidates for Prime Minister and expressed their willingness to form a government.
According to the critics of President’s decision, it’s a waste of time as PiS will not be able to command a majority in the new Sejm. All of the opposition parties ruled they’ll form a coalition with the current party in power, refusing to even begin any talks. Opposition’s candidate, Donald Tusk, stresses, that the coalition agreement between Civic Coalition, The Third Way and The Left is nearly ready. Those 3 combined parties will have 248 out of 460 seats in the Sejm. PiS alone only has 194 seats.
Donald Tusk and his coalition parties will have to wait for Morawiecki’s mission to fail first, before he can have a go at forming a government.
President Duda assured that all constitutional rules and deadlines would be respected. If the Law and Justice representative’s mission to form a government fails, the Sejm will choose a candidate for Prime Minister, whom the President will promptly appoint.
The President emphasized the importance of cooperation with the new parliament and the Council of Ministers, regardless of the final parliamentary majority and the government formed. He stressed the need for collaboration, especially in areas of security and international affairs, and reiterated that the Presidential Palace’s doors are always open for those who seek to work on Poland’s most critical issues.
As Poland approaches its Independence Day, President Duda hopes it will be celebrated in a spirit of cooperation, reminding citizens that despite historical political differences, the fathers of Poland’s independence managed to work together on the most important matters.
This announcement sets the stage for the next phase of Poland’s political landscape, with the formation of a new government and the potential for shifts in the country’s policy direction.
