Donald Tusk
Donald Tusk sworn in as Poland's new prime minister
Poland's president on Wednesday swore in Donald Tusk as the new pro-EU prime minister, putting an end to eight years of right-wing populist rule.
The ministers of the new administration were successively sworn in by the conservative head of state, who is allied with the previous government of the Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Poland's pro-EU Tusk wins parliament backing to return as premier
Polish pro-EU government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday, marking an end to eight years of rule by right-wing populists.
Populist legacy will weigh on Poland's next government
Expectations for Poland's pro-EU government which is due to take power next week are sky-high but current ruling nationalists will still be a powerful and influential opposition, analysts say.
Poland's prime minister resigns
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki offered his conservative government's resignation on Monday as required as the newly elected parliament met for the first time in a transition of power following an election last month.
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Hundreds of Thousands Protest Against Government Across Poland
Independent website onet.pl used aerial images to calculate that at least 300,000 took to the streets. The centre of Warsaw was completely paralysed and protesters had to walk across the city to get to the meeting place on Sunday at noon.
Poland’s President Signs into Law New Political Commission to Investigate Russian Influence
Polish President Andrzej Duda arrives at the Opening Session of the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe at the Harpa Conference Center in Reykjavik, Iceland, 16 May 2023. EPA-EFE/Leszek Szymanski
This Week in Central Europe / 28 April 2023
In other news, Donald Tusk, leader of Poland's main opposition Civic Platform party, is put under investigation by Warsaw prosecutors for abuse of power; the new Czech president is already at odds with the government; and former Slovak PM Robert Fico says 'yes' to Ukraine in the EU, 'no' to it joining NATO.
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Poland in 2023: Elections Offer Chance of a Fresh Start
Yet even if it wanted to cut a deal with the EU, PiS is caught between a rock and hard place with its junior coalition partner, the party of Zbigniew Ziobro. The hardline justice minister won't agree to any compromises with Brussels, but dropping him from the coalition would result in a minority government, which is definitely not an ideal situation in an election year.
Democracy Digest: Poland Closer to Getting Hands on EU Recovery Cash
To get the law through, the ruling Law and Justice {PiS} even rejected some amendments proposed by MPs from the party of hardline Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. On Wednesday night, it seemed the Justice Ministers' crowd was ready to let this one go in the name of, as they said, "a far-reaching compromise".
Democracy Digest: Cracks Emerge Between Central Europe’s Conservative Allies
So far, Ziobro has opposed any compromise with Brussels, but the new scenario discussed this week is that his party would submit amendments to a presidential draft law to dismantle the Chamber, which PiS would later accept.