An alliance of three opposition parties won a majority of parliamentary seats in Poland’s elections, according to official final results. The election commission in Warsaw announced this on Tuesday after all votes had been counted.
The national-conservative ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party will be the strongest force in the new parliament, but missed an outright majority.
Three-party coalition
30.7 percent voted for the largest opposition alliance, former Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s liberal-conservative Citizens’ Coalition (KO) – making it the second strongest force. The KO plans a government coalition with the Christian-conservative Third Way (14.4 percent) and the left-wing Lewica alliance (8.61 percent). The three-party alliance has 248 of a total of 460 seats and therefore a majority of the mandates.
According to the electoral commission, the PiS received 35.38 percent of the votes and will be the strongest force in the new parliament with 194 members. However, for a government majority it would be dependent on a coalition partner. Only the ultra-right Konfederacja would qualify for this, but it received 7.16 percent and 18 seats – which is not enough for a majority.
Highest turnout since the end of communism
The opposition also won the majority of seats in the Senate, the less important second chamber of parliament. The ‘Senate Pact’ alliance, which includes independent candidates in addition to the KO, the Third Way and the left-wing Lewica alliance, won 66 seats, while the PiS took the remaining 34 seats.
Voter turnout was 74.38 percent – the highest since the end of communism in 1989.
In the next step, President Andrzej Duda must now instruct a politician to form a government. It is a political custom in Poland, but not mandatory, that a representative of the strongest political camp is given this assignment. That is why observers in Warsaw assume that Duda, who is close to the national conservatives, will initially give the job to a PiS politician. This could delay the government formation process by several weeks. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
