Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, secured a narrow victory in a confidence vote he called to stabilize his position after the conservative PiS-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki’s recent win in the presidential election. Despite winning the vote by 243 to 210, Tusk’s position remains precarious, with even liberal media acknowledging that his pro-Brussels agenda is still a point of contention.
Tusk, who faced intense criticism in the parliamentary debate leading up to the vote, did not attend the entire session. PiS MP Łukasz Schreiber lashed out, accusing Tusk of cynicism, dishonesty, and undermining Poland’s interests through policies like the migration pact and the Green Deal. “The Poles showed you the red card during the last presidential election,” Schreiber said. Michał Wójcik, another PiS MP, added fuel to the fire, accusing Tusk of attacking key state institutions and leaving Poland with high living costs and broken promises.
Protesters gathered outside Parliament with banners reading, “Tusk’s Government—Step Down,” while his supporters rallied, urging him to “Not Take a Step Back.” Tusk has already indicated that he plans to bypass the new conservative president’s vetoes, declaring after the election, “We will continue governing, even if the president blocks our reforms.”
Artur Ciechanowicz, a correspondent for European Conservative, noted that Tusk’s victory in this vote was expected, as his coalition partners, despite growing discontent, are hesitant to push for early elections, which could cost them more than Tusk’s Civic Platform.
