Polish PM calls for trust vote after nationalist wins presidency

WARSAW: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday called for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continued support for his pro-EU government after a nationalist candidate won the presidential election.

In a televised address, Tusk said he would “ask for a vote of confidence in the lower house soon” in his coalition government. He voiced hope that he would be able to cooperate with president-elect Karol Nawrocki.

“As prime minister, I will not stop for a moment my work and our common struggle for the Poland of our dreams... free, sovereign, safe and prosperous,” Tusk said. “The presidential election has not changed anything here and will not change anything.”

Tusk’s government has had a majority in parliament since it took over from the Law and Justice (PiS) party following parliamentary elections in 2023. But there are internal divisions in the coalition which experts say could be exacerbated by Nawrocki’s victory.

Some analysts have predicted that the growing political tensions could bring down the government and prompt early parliamentary elections, which are not expected until 2027. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said just before Tusk spoke that Sunday’s election result was a “red card” for the government.