Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Monday that he will submit to a no-confidence vote after Eurosceptic candidate Karol Nawrock narrowly won the runoff election against his candidate, Rafal Trazaskowski.
“The first test will be a vote of confidence, which I will soon request from the Sejm (the country’s lower house). I want everyone, including our opponents in Poland and abroad, to see that we are prepared for this situation,” he declared in a speech published on his profile on the social media platform X.
However, he assured that as head of government, he will not stop working “for a moment” in their “joint” fight for “a free, sovereign, secure, and affordable Poland,” confirming that he will cooperate “with the new president”—whom he congratulated on his victory—whenever necessary and possible.”
“I am aware that it may be more difficult than many of you thought when you voted yesterday. But that does not alter in the least my determination and willingness to act in defense of everything we believe in. The emergency plan, which presupposes a difficult coexistence, is ready,” he stated.
In this regard, he acknowledged that “it is difficult to predict what the new president’s attitude will be,” but said that “if he shows his willingness to cooperate, it would be a positive surprise” to which they will respond “with complete frankness.” “Otherwise, there is nothing to expect,” he added.
The head of government recalled that “there is much to do,” from international affairs to building a “strong” army and economy, and even the fight against crime. To carry out his policies, he called for “unity and courage.”
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT THANKS FOR SUPPORT IN A “HARD FIGHT”
His remarks came minutes after the president-elect, ultra-nationalist Karol Nawrocki, spoke for the first time since his election victory, thanking the public for their support at the polls “in this very tough fight.” “We won together for the good of our beloved homeland,” he said.
“Every day of the campaign, as I traveled throughout Poland, I felt your support. Not only in Poland, but also abroad. I felt that you were with me, despite the numerous manipulations and the wave of hatred that has been poured on me and my family,” he asserted.
However, he considered that Poles want “to live in a secure and economically strong country that cares for the weakest, a country that counts in international, European, and transatlantic relations,” and that “respects its history.”
“I will do everything possible to meet your expectations. You can be sure that, as head of state, I will not neglect any of the issues important to Poland and the Poles. I will represent you with dignity on the international stage,” he added.
Nawrocki, backed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, won the elections held this Sunday with 50.9 percent of the vote, compared to the candidate of the ruling Civic Coalition, who ultimately obtained 49.1 percent of the vote, in an election that had over 71 percent of the turnout.
