Poland's pro-EU opposition ahead in election with record turnout

With partial results in and record turnout, it looks like Poland's liberal pro-European parties have beaten the far-right illiberals of the Law and Justice Party to form the next government.

World

2 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

16 October, 2023

Leader of the Civic Coalition Donald Tusk celebrates exit polls showing he could form the next government ahead of the far-right Law and Justice Party [Getty]

Poland's pro-EU opposition on Monday was set to win a parliamentary majority, partial results showed, a day after a national election which saw the highest turnout since the fall of Communism.

The surprise result would end eight years of rule by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, during which relations with the European Union -- and in recent weeks with war-torn Ukraine -- have dramatically soured.

The opposition, led by former EU chief Donald Tusk, had billed the parliamentary elections as the "last chance" to save democracy.

"This is the end of grim times," Tusk declared late on Sunday.

With more than 80 percent of votes counted, PiS was in the lead but without a majority at 37 percent, while Tusk's Civic Coalition, the Third Way and Left parties together had 52 percent.

How not to make Europe great again

Voices

Khaled Diab

Putting the liberal opposition in power would bring a huge political shift in Poland, countering the PiS party's nationalist hardline Catholic vision for the country.

The election was dominated by issues such as Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, migrants and women's rights.

Aleksandra Metlewicz, an interior designer, said women's rights were "crucial" to her in the vote.

The 33-year-old said she hoped Poland would come out of the "Middle Ages", in which she said it was stuck.

For voters in the capital Warsaw, where support for nationalists is traditionally lower, the outcome predicted in exit polls already heralded major changes.

Natalia Szydlik, a 20-year-old student, also hoped Poland's strict abortion laws would be liberalised and said she had "big hopes that things will change".

But, with votes still being counted, heavyweight politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition were largely silent on Monday.

Final results are expected on Tuesday.

That would give the three together a majority of 249.

The expected result comes despite PiS throwing all available state resources into its campaign, controlling state television and painting Tusk as a corrupt villain.