Karol Nawrocki was inaugurated as President of Poland following his surprising victory in June’s vote. His ascension introduces a period of potential friction with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose centrist‑liberal coalition has been in power since December 2023. Tusk returned to the premiership after eight years of conservative rule by Law and Justice, leading a broad coalition known as the 15 October Coalition, which includes Civic Platform, Poland 2050, the Polish People’s Party and the New Left, and holds a parliamentary majority.
Tusk is the longest‑serving prime minister in modern Polish history, having previously held office between 2007 and 2014, later serving as President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. Upon his return, he promised to mend democratic norms, restore relations with the European Union, and unfreeze EU funding suspended during the previous government. Under Tusk’s leadership, Poland also assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2025, positioning itself as a key voice in European affairs — championing enhanced defense, competitiveness, and unity within the EU.
However, critics argue Tusk has struggled to implement transformative reforms fast enough and has sometimes retained moderate populist tendencies, leading to public disillusionment. Many liberal voters expected more ambitious change in areas such as abortion law, LGBTQ+ rights, and judiciary reform, and the election of Nawrocki is viewed by some as a manifestation of that frustration.
The political arena is now poised for a complex cohabitation. Nawrocki enters the presidency backed by PiS and promises to veto government reforms, while Tusk commands a parliamentary majority but faces potential gridlock, as overturning a presidential veto requires a three‑fifths majority, which his coalition lacks .
In light of this broader context, Nawrocki’s inauguration underscores both the achievements and unfulfilled aspirations of Tusk’s government, setting the stage for a tense political dance as Poland navigates its democratic and European trajectory.
