Polish Opposition Forms New Pro-European Ruling Coalition and Agrees on Coalition Government
Four Polish opposition parties today formed a new pro-European and pro-Ukrainian ruling coalition and signed an agreement on a coalition government following last month's elections, Polskie Radio reports.
The agreement was officially signed in Warsaw on Friday by the leaders of four pro-European groups, the Civic Coalition, the Third Way, and the New Left, including Donald Tusk, their joint candidate for prime minister.
The three opposition parties will now have a majority in the Sejm - 248 out of 460 seats.
Tusk, a former prime minister and senior European Union official, said that by agreeing to a coalition government on the eve of Poland's Independence Day, the four parties had shown that "it is possible to work together quickly and coherently for the country."
The liberal politician, who is being chosen by the four parties to become Poland's next prime minister, said: "Although the decision is up to the president, we are ready to take responsibility for the country in the coming years."
Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party won the 15 October parliamentary elections, but lost a majority to an alliance of four pro-European opposition parties led by the liberal Civic Coalition.
President Andrzej Duda announced on Monday that the task of forming a new government will be entrusted to incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
As all other parties have ruled out the possibility of joining a coalition government with Morawiecki's Law and Justice, the current ruling party, which has been in power since 2015, is unlikely to be able to in power since 2015, is unlikely to be able to govern.
If Morawiecki fails to win a vote of confidence in the lower house, the chamber will appoint another prime minister.
Tusk, who served as Poland's prime minister from 2007 to 2014, is expected to take the post.
After the election, all opposition parties in Poland called on President Duda to appoint a new prime minister.
After consultations with the political parties that have secured representation in the new Sejm, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced two potential candidates for the post of Prime Minister: the current Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and opposition leader Donald Tusk.