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The Washington Post: The past elections in Poland marked a potential turning point in the political situation in the country. Although the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won the most votes, 35.38%, it failed to win a governing majority. The opposition Civic Platform won 30.70% of the vote, but is in a better position to form a coalition government with the Third Way and Left parties. The election results are seen as a challenge to hard right-wing policies that have undermined democratic norms in Poland. The situation puts PiS in a similar position to that faced by Donald Trump in the US and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil: how to deal with defeat in the same democracy it sought to undermine. Observers do not expect PiS to quietly accept defeat; the transition of power could drag on for months as PiS may try to find defectors among the opposition.
Donald Tusk, the former president of the European Council, declared victory for the opposition, sparking hope for a turnaround of hard-right politics in Poland. Challenges remain, however. Any new government will have to navigate a political landscape where the judiciary and President Andrzej Duda remain under the influence of PiS.
The outcome of the election could have far-reaching implications for the European Union, with the potential to improve the strained relationship between Warsaw and Brussels.
The highly contested election produced an exceptional turnout of over 74%, with the opposition supported mainly by young, educated urban voters.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/16/poland-elections-2023-donald-tusk/
