The Polish presidency opens consultations with electoral commissions to map the path for a new government
President Andrzej Duda began a series of talks with representatives from the electoral committees that will be seated in the next Sejm. The discussions started on Tuesday with the ruling party and were followed by meetings with the Civic Coalition and other groups. The president said his aim was to hear ideas on investments, the economy, energy, and defense, along with potential candidates for prime minister.
Over Tuesday and Wednesday, Duda invited the electoral commissions that will take part in forming the next government to consultations. Each committee spoke separately, in the order corresponding to their seat share in the recent elections.
On Tuesday, the president held meetings with delegates from the Law and Justice party, followed by talks with the Civic Coalition, the Polish Coalition, and the Green party. On Wednesday, the agenda included exchanges with Szymon Hołownia’s coalition Trzecia Droga, the Polish People’s Party Polska 2050, Nowa Lewica, and Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość (Liberty and Independence) at set times throughout the day.
The president remarked in a recent interview that he would ask election commissions about ideas for investments, the economy, energy, and defense. He also indicated that he would ask for views on possible prime minister candidates and whether those groups believed they held a majority capable of backing a specific candidate.
He expressed a hope that the talks would proceed peacefully and noted that Poland is currently in a strong constitutional phase. He did not see a reason to interrupt the current Sejm term, which runs until mid-November.
Should the incoming government shift away from current policies on investments, security, or defense, the president said he would engage in the discussion. At the same time, he reassured that social benefits would not be abolished.
Mateusz Morawiecki, the present head of government, is the PiS’s candidate for prime minister.
The natural choice for premier remains Mateusz Morawiecki, and no changes are anticipated at this moment, according to statements from party officials.
– emphasized Jacek Sasin, the minister of state assets. He pointed out that it is customary in Poland for the president to entrust the government formation to the party with the most seats. PiS will be represented at the meeting with the president by Mateusz Morawiecki, Ryszard Terlecki, and party spokesperson Rafał Bochenek.
The candidate for prime minister for the three opposition groups – Civic Coalition, Trzecia Droga, and Nowa Lewica – is expected to be Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform. Before the consultations began on Tuesday morning, leaders from these opposition formations had to issue a joint statement showing readiness to form a future government with Tusk at the helm.
Cezary Tomczyk of the Civic Platform announced that Donald Tusk would visit the presidential palace for talks.
Tomczyk also noted that Tusk would likely meet the president and then receive a nomination, a process he described as a standard practice in democratic states.
As the process unfolds, observers stress that the Poles have a clear preference for how power should be transferred and what projects should be pursued. Morawiecki remains prime minister for now, and the speed of the process could affect how quickly the will of the voters is enacted.
From the Third Way, PSL president Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Poland 2050 leader Szymon Hołownia will participate in the talks. Michał Kobosko, the deputy head of Poland 2050, said the opposition would present a coherent message about forming a new government and expected the president to promptly assign the task to the majority coalition. Kobosko argued that entrusting the government to the United Right would be inefficient in Poland’s current moment.
Kosiniak-Kamysz had stated at a recent press conference that his party aims to see a government formed as soon as possible. He stressed that the mission was being pursued to avoid wasting time and to reflect the clear direction the Polish people have chosen, highlighting the importance of rural and agricultural issues for PSL.
Representing the Left, Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Krzysztof Gawkowski prepared to present the Left’s stance during the talks. Gawkowski indicated the Left would advocate for a government formed by PO, Nowa Lewica, and Trzecia Droga, while Wojciech Konieczny suggested that the Left would outline their vision discussed during the campaign. The President was told that the Left valued the preservation of social achievements built up in recent years and anticipated a constructive environment for the talks.
Confederation leaders Krzysztof Bosak and others planned broader delegation participation. They framed their position as opposition, stressing that they would not join a coalition with PiS or KO but would participate to ensure a functioning government should a majority emerge. They sought to avoid chaos and wanted a strong opposition voice that looks out for Polish interests.
In the Sejm, PiS won 194 seats, KO 157, Trzecia Droga 65, Nowa Lewica 26, and Confederation 18. The constitution outlines three steps for forming a government after an election. First, the president appoints a prime minister and sees if the proposed government can secure an absolute majority in the Sejm for a vote of confidence. If this fails, the Sejm may take the initiative to form a government that also requires an absolute majority and the presence of at least half of the deputies. If those efforts do not yield a government, the initiative returns to the president, and a simple majority is required for a confidence vote.
kk/PAP