Poland’s parliamentary election is underway, with the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) government vying for a third term while facing off against an opposition led by former prime minister and European Council president, Donald Tusk.
Pre-election polls indicate a tightly contested race, where the ability to form a government may hinge on smaller parties’ results. Both sides frame the vote as vital for Poland’s future.
PiS, which has governed for eight years, has made significant changes, including controlling public television, limiting abortion rights, and targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and refugees. They have also clashed with the European Union over rule of law issues, leading to frozen European funding.
PiS’s campaign plays on populism, emphasizing their ability to protect Poland from a perceived refugee “invasion.” They have consistently criticized Tusk as a foreign puppet. Jarosław Kaczyński, PiS’s leader, framed the election as a choice between Polish governance or foreign influence from Berlin or Brussels.
Long lines formed in Warsaw, where the opposition holds strong support, while PiS’s base is in smaller towns and rural areas. In the Wola district, opposition voters expressed confidence in their chances of unseating PiS.
“I saw a lot of young people, more than four or eight years ago, which makes me optimistic,” said Pawel, 46, who had voted for Tusk’s Civic Coalition. At the same polling station Maciej, 78, said the stereotype that older people supported PiS was not true. “There are plenty of us who know how to think,” he said, tapping his forehead.
In the Gocław district, Grażyna, aged 77, cast her vote for PiS, believing it to be the “fairest” among all parties. She expressed hope that PiS would continue improving Poland, following a 20-minute wait in line.
In addition to the election, the government is conducting a referendum with four key questions, two of which pertain to migration. One question queries people’s agreement with “the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa.”
The referendum is seen as a means to increase PiS’s voter turnout and potentially bypass electoral funding restrictions. The opposition has advised its supporters to request only an election ballot and abstain from the referendum, which requires a 50% turnout to be valid.
The final election outcome may hinge on the performance of three smaller political groupings. The left-wing Lewica and center-right Third Way are expected to form a coalition with Tusk’s Civic Coalition, provided they can collectively secure the 231 seats required for a majority in the lower house of parliament.