Polish President Andrzej Duda swore in a new government on Monday, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the helm. However, Morawiecki’s term is expected to be short-lived, lasting a maximum of 14 days. This is because Morawiecki and his Law and Justice (PiS) party lost the October 15 general election to a coalition of opposition parties. Although PiS is the largest grouping in the new parliament with 191 MPs, the three opposition parties, pledging support for a government led by former PM Donald Tusk, hold 248 seats — securing a solid majority in the 460-member parliament. Despite this, Duda insisted that Morawiecki be given the initial opportunity to attempt to form a government.
During Monday’s ceremony, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated, “We are fulfilling a constitutional custom by appointing a government that represents the grouping that won the parliamentary election.” Despite efforts to engage in talks with opposition MPs over several weeks, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was unsuccessful in demonstrating any willingness from other parties to collaborate with his government. Krzysztof Bosak from the far-right Confederation party reiterated their stance that a coalition government was not possible. Polish President Andrzej
Nevertheless, Duda proceeded with the formalities, swearing in a Cabinet that included familiar figures like Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak but lacked prominent figures such as Zbigniew Ziobro, the former justice minister and chief prosecutor known for initiating conflicts with the EU over the rule of law in Poland. Notably, this PiS-led Cabinet marks the first time a majority of female ministers have been appointed.
“I’m looking at the prime minister and at the ladies and gentlemen ministers with joy,” remarked Duda.
Despite the formalities, the absence of the speakers of both the parliament and the upper chamber Senate during the ceremony indicated the underlying significance. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki now has a two-week window to present his program to parliament and attempt to secure a vote of confidence. Given the likely failure of this attempt, the parliament will then have the authority to select a candidate for prime minister, paving the way for Donald Tusk to return to an office he vacated in 2014.
“Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, in terms of the structure of ministers, is 100 percent completed,” stated Marcin Kierwiński, a senior member of Tusk’s Civic Coalition party.