Kraków, Poland, (EFE).- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a confidence vote in parliament, strengthening his liberal coalition at a critical time following the presidential election victory of Karol Nawrocki, a politician associated with the opposition.
Tusk requested the motion to reaffirm unity within his coalition. It was approved with 243 votes in favor, 210 against, and no abstentions.
This followed a long, acrimonious, and eventful seven-hour debate in the lower house of parliament involving at least 300 interventions.
Tusk’s decision to submit to a motion of confidence was prompted by speculation over the continuity of the government and the 12-party alliance that supports it, following the loss of his presidential candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, to Nawrocki on Jun. 1. Nawrocki was backed by the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS).
The Polish Prime Minister sought to reaffirm his leadership and pre-empt possible motions of censure by the opposition.
He stated that he required a vote of confidence because there had been speculation about whether the government would remain in power, and that it was not functioning effectively under these conditions.
A difficult juncture
The arrival of a new president like Nawrocki, who opposes the government politically, has exacerbated the already tense political situation in Poland. Continued deadlock in the form of a presidential veto looms, which would make life very difficult for Tusk and his parliamentary team.
The conservative opposition has called for early elections and an “apolitical” transitional government. Sprawiedliwosc (PiS), Law and Justice in english, MP Jan Kanthak pointed out that “the real vote of no confidence was given by the nation on Jun. 1,” about the presidential elections.
Tusk faces a challenging situation as he must contend with a president who is ideologically opposed to him.
There is already worrying news for Tusk’s future, such as Polish People’s Party (PSL) militants (a party in his coalition) consulting on whether to negotiate an agreement with the opposition to form a government.
Promises of change
Tusk has used the motion of confidence to outline his agenda, which he calls a “contingency plan.”
He also announced a government reshuffle for July, involving “new faces” and a “new structure.”
A new government spokesperson is also expected to be appointed within a week. Tusk initially deemed this position unnecessary, yet on Wednesday he described it as “important and weighty.”
The Polish leader used the opportunity to showcase his achievements, including a much more secure border with Belarus, a restrictive migration policy in line with Brussels, increased defense spending, and the launch of an in vitro fertilization program, despite the failure to liberalize abortion laws. This program has resulted in the birth of over 1,600 children.
For Tusk, the most immediate future lies in the complicated management of a weakened alliance and the arrival of a hostile president, who will breathe new life into the opposition.
Having won the confidence motion, the Polish leader himself admitted during Wednesday’s debate that he “knows the taste of victory and the bitterness of defeat,” but not the word “capitulation.” EFE
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