Polish Presidency and Sejm: Timing, Coalitions, and Constitutional Steps in Poland’s Political Scene

President Andrzej Duda follows constitutional procedures with careful timing, says Marcin Mastalerek, head of the President’s Office, in an interview with Polsat News on Friday. He stressed that the government’s direction is decided in the Sejm, not in the court of public opinion or the media.

The president is not delaying anything.

Officials were asked why President Duda did not immediately appoint a prime ministerial candidate. Mastalerek replied that the public debate on social media and in newsrooms is loud, yet the president, acting within the constitution, moves at a steady pace. In the eyes of the presidency, this tempo aligns with today’s fast-moving media environment.

He added that during consultations the president informed representatives of all parties that he would not shorten the Sejm term and that nothing has occurred to justify such a move.

In Mastalerek’s view, this means the president will proceed calmly, following a plan that matches the current climate and timing.

Regarding the choice of the prime minister, Mastalerek noted that coalition talks have not yet produced a binding agreement on the program. Different voices fill the air each day, and the consultations served to gauge what each party would say if offered the post, what their legal bodies and political movements would decide. Now the president must consider the matter very seriously given its significance.

“The votes have to be counted there.”

When confronted with the view that parliamentary arithmetic clearly points to Donald Tusk becoming prime minister, Mastalerek said the final tally will be determined in the Sejm. He reminded listeners that it is the parliamentary chamber, not the media, that decides the government’s majority. Depending on the moment and the plan, the president will announce the result first, and then it will be enacted.

Asked whether the president would wait for the first-session vote of the Sejm in the new term, Mastalerek said he would not preempt the president and did not know if this would happen before mid-November.

Consultation in the presidential palace

Andrzej Duda, after summarizing a two-day consultation with electoral commissions, provisionally scheduled the first session of the 10th term Sejm for Monday, 13 November. He underscored that there is no reason to shorten the current term of office.

He noted two political groups that claim a parliamentary majority and have a candidate for prime minister. The United Right backs Mateusz Morawiecki, while the coalition of KO, Third Way and Left offers Donald Tusk.

In the Sejm elections, PiS won 194 seats, KO 157, Third Way 65, New Left 26, and Confederation 18.

The constitution outlines three possible steps to form a government after elections. The president plays a key role, appointing the prime minister while ensuring the government commands an absolute majority in the Sejm for a confidence vote. If this fails, the Sejm takes the initiative. The prime minister and government then require an absolute majority in the presence of at least half of the deputies. If that path fails, the initiative returns to the president, and a simple majority can secure a confidence vote.

“Real conclusions need to be drawn.”

Mastalerek stressed that the president has never sought to be a party politician and does not want that role. Still, for the right wing to endure and triumph, this stance will likely be a key element, according to the presidential minister. The question remains whether PiS can secure victory or if the party will face years in opposition.

Mastalerek commented that in politics one can lose, and that loss is part of democracy. The conservative and independent camp has shown resilience, reorganizing itself and turning the tide in past cycles. When asked whether PiS needs a reorganization today, he suggested the issue is clear.

When pressed about Jarosław Kaczyński and the leadership of the United Right in 2025, Mastalerek said Duda has never been a party activist. He recalled his own early involvement in party structures and youth organizations, noting that Duda entered politics as a patron who joined the government, later served as a minister in the office of President Lech Kaczyński, and then became a parliamentarian known for shaping laws and contributing to the Constitutional Court. He emphasized that Duda has never sought to be an activist and does not aim for that role now.

He also reflected that Duda is seen by many as a symbol of the 2015 changes, a reference many interpret as a pivotal moment in the political landscape. Mastalerek insisted that Duda is not driven by personal ambition in this sense, and noted that the president should be free to act in service of the country without feeling bound by political branding.

Asked whether Duda is a lasting symbol until the election victory, Mastalerek rejected the premise. The president’s role, he argued, is to work with the entities that constitute the right-wing camp, adapting to evolving dynamics and ensuring a constructive path forward on the political stage.

He pointed to examples from other European countries, mentioning how coalition dynamics can shift and how different parties interact within national governments, underscoring that such adaptability is part of modern politics.

“Such an MP would be banned from the media.”

When questions touched on Milewski’s remarks that PiS and the president aim to prevent Donald Tusk from becoming prime minister, Mastalerek dismissed any notion that such statements should guide the president. He recalled his own experience as PiS spokesperson in 2015, noting that publicly banning an MP would have been a plausible response under different circumstances.

He reiterated that the president’s duty is not to block opponents; rather, it is to navigate with constitutional prudence. He added that Milewski’s words do not reflect the president’s approach, and stressed the long-standing cooperation between the presidency and the government over the past eight years.

If future cohabitation arises with a different political environment, Mastalerek said the president would approach cooperation openly. The boundaries of collaboration would be defined by the constitution and the goodwill of the other side, with the president maintaining a constructive stance whenever possible.

Asked whether negotiations with a potential KO, Third Way, and Left coalition on changes to the National Council for the Judiciary or public television would be considered, Mastalerek said any such steps would depend on the laws themselves. The president would evaluate the legal framework before deciding how to proceed.

He concluded that the president aims to avoid becoming a convenient excuse for any future coalition and that his views on judiciary and other matters have diverged from those of the opposition at times. The conversation, he noted, reflects a broader ambition to ensure stable governance while staying true to constitutional guidelines.

Further remarks pointed to the idea that the right-wing coalition should be ready to adapt and respond to evolving political realities, as the landscape in Poland continues to shift. The president’s role, as seen by Mastalerek, remains a steady, constitutional anchor in trying times.

All statements cited in these discussions reflect the exchanges carried out in Polsat News and the broader political dialogue surrounding the Sejm and the presidential office. The coverage aims to illuminate the processes, decisions, and voices shaping Poland’s path ahead.