During recent consultations, President Andrzej Duda signaled his intention to hear direct input from representatives of the electoral commissions. The topics of interest include security, eastern policy, social policy, and the Polish armed forces, as stated by Presidential Minister Marcin Przydacz during a Sunday appearance on the Super Express debate.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, at the president’s invitation, consultations are planned at the Presidential Palace with the electoral commissions that will be represented in the forthcoming Sejm. Each election committee will meet separately, in the sequence determined by their performance in the most recent elections.
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— Opposition leaders are preparing a joint statement. Lasek notes ongoing talks to forge a permanent coalition agreement
– Przydacz noted that turbulent and unstable times may lie ahead. He added that the opposition shows unity in opposition to policies and there could be persistent stalemates in the Sejm
What is the president hoping to learn?
The president aims to gather ideas from individual committees about the near-term direction of Polish affairs. While campaigns have their own rhythms and issues may shift, the post-election period presents a valuable moment to discuss core security concerns, eastern policy, social policy, and the state of the Polish army, among other topics, according to the president’s office.
– explained the head of the Presidential Office for International Policy. He noted that the consultations will help illuminate how the future Sejm might approach these central issues for the country.
The discussions are not merely about the Sejm’s composition or potential coalitions. They will also reveal which parties have concrete ideas for the near future, what changes they believe should be preserved from the past eight years, and which areas require evolution.
– he added.
Przydacz emphasized that the president will decide on subsequent steps based on a careful analysis of these talks, and that such decisions will respect the constitutional timelines.
The process of forming a government
The constitution outlines three potential pathways for naming the government after elections. In the first scenario, the president plays a pivotal role by convening sessions of the Sejm and Senate within thirty days of the election. During the initial Sejm session of the new term, the current prime minister must resign, and the president accepts the resignation. A government in a transitional phase continues to operate until a new administration is appointed.
The president then names the prime minister and the cabinet. Historically, presidents have often appointed individuals chosen by the party that won the election. When selecting the prime minister, the president ensures that the proposed government can secure an absolute majority in the Sejm to obtain a vote of confidence. If the cabinet does not receive this backing, the Sejm may initiate efforts to form the government itself.
In this constitutional pathway, a group of at least 46 MPs can nominate a prime minister candidate. The Sejm elects the prime minister by an absolute majority, provided at least half of the legal number of deputies are present. The prime minister then presents the government program and the proposed cabinet to the Sejm, which votes on confidence by an absolute majority in the presence of at least half of the deputies. The Sejm has fourteen days to complete this vote.
If the Sejm fails to form a government, the president may appoint the prime minister and, if requested, other ministers within fourteen days and administer their oath. After appointment, the cabinet has fourteen days to secure a vote of confidence in the Sejm. In this step, the Sejm grants confidence by a simple majority vote, with the presence of at least half of the legal deputies.
Source: wPolityce (citation)