Reports of the death of Polish democracy appear to have been greatly exaggerated

An electoral shift suggests the right didn’t kill democracy after all. Reports of the death of Polish democracy appear to have been greatly exaggerated, as exit polls suggest this weekend’s election has produced a perfectly normal swing in political power. The centrist opposition is expected to have a clear shot at forming an administration to replace the right-leaning Law and Justice (PiS).

Exit polls suggested PiS, led by Jarosław Kaczyński, was the plurality vote-winner in Sunday’s election with about 36%. PiS will get the initial opportunity to form a new government but is expected to fall short.

That would clear the field for a plausible coalition of three centrist parties led by former Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition, which won a combined 54% of the vote and enough seats in Parliament to have a mandate to form a government. Turnout was unusually heavy, at some 73%, in an election many commentators described as the most important of Poland’s post-Communist era.

Bitter Electoral Contest in Poland Reflects Stresses of War on Its Doorstep. The tussle for power on Europe’s eastern flank has taken a harsh turn as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looms over the outcome. Ruling Law and Justice Party veers right to tap Ukraine fatigue, but fails to win enough votes to form government.

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