In the recent local and regional elections in Poland, an exit poll showed Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU party trailing the conservative opposition party, Law and Justice. However, the socially liberal mayor of Warsaw, an ally of Tusk, easily won another term. This was the first electoral test for Tusk’s coalition government since taking power four months ago, with Poles voting for mayors, local councilors, and regional assembly representatives. The exit polls indicated a close race between Law and Justice, which won 33.7% of votes, and Tusk’s Civic Coalition, which won 31.9%.
Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski declared victory, emphasizing that the party remains a political force to be reckoned with in Poland. Runoff votes are scheduled for April 21 for mayoral candidates who did not secure at least 50% of the vote. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski avoided a runoff by winning nearly 60% of the vote, while the mayor of Gdansk, another Tusk ally, also won outright. Tusk praised Trzaskowski as the “hero” of the evening but acknowledged that conservative regions supporting his opponents seemed more mobilized, possibly influenced by good weather on election day.
Apart from the main contenders, other parties like the Third Way coalition, the Left, and the radical right-wing Confederation party also participated in the elections. These parties trailed behind Law and Justice and Civic Coalition, with the Third Way projected to receive 13.5%, the Left with 6.8%, and the Confederation party with 7.5%. The Third Way and the Left are part of Tusk’s national coalition, which won the fall national election, ending Law and Justice’s eight-year rule. The EU had criticized Law and Justice for violating democratic standards with changes to the judicial system and public media, prompting Tusk to promise reversals of those changes.
Tusk’s government faces challenges in implementing its program, such as liberalizing the strict abortion law, due to resistance from conservatives within his own coalition. Despite setbacks, Tusk remains committed to fulfilling his promises to reverse controversial changes made by the previous government. The final results of the local and regional elections are expected to be announced on Monday, providing a clearer picture of the political landscape in Poland. The close race between Law and Justice and Civic Coalition indicates a divided electorate, with both parties securing significant support from voters across the country. The outcome of these elections will have implications for future national politics and policies in Poland.
