POLAND: In a pivotal political move, Donald Tusk is anticipated to step into the role of Poland's prime minister this week, marking the end of an eight-year reign by the nationalist and populist Law and Justice (PiS) party. This transition follows nearly two months after an opposition alliance secured a majority in a parliamentary election.

The Tusk-led coalition claimed a decisive number of seats in the October 15th vote. However, despite this win, President Andrzej Duda, a PiS supporter, initially entrusted incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki with forming a new government, a move widely perceived as a stalling tactic.

Morawiecki is slated to present his proposed government to the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, on Monday, facing an anticipated vote of confidence, which is expected to result in failure. Consequently, the Sejm is likely to nominate Tusk as their candidate, and he is poised to unveil his proposed cabinet on Tuesday, following extensive negotiations among potential coalition partners.

The parliamentary vote on Tusk's government is set for Tuesday, potentially enabling him to assume office by Wednesday. This timely transition could also facilitate his attendance at an upcoming EU leaders' summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

For Tusk, 66, this return to the national stage signifies a triumphant comeback, having previously served as prime minister from 2007 to 2014 before transitioning to the presidency of the European Council. However, navigating a broad and potentially complex coalition presents a formidable challenge, coupled with managing a precarious economic situation and securing passage of a budget before year-end.

Addressing these imminent challenges, Tusk highlighted the absence of a drafted budget, indicating its neglect under Morawiecki's leadership. He pledged efforts to rectify this shortfall, mentioning plans for substantial pay raises for teachers, amounting to a 30% increase.

The PiS party, in power since winning the 2015 parliamentary elections, implemented a mix of expansive social spending and populist policies targeting migrant and LGBTQ+ communities. This approach led to friction with Brussels over rule of law matters, resulting in the freezing of allocated funds from the European Union.

Speaking on future strategies, Tusk outlined plans to collaborate with the incoming justice minister and legal experts to enact reforms aimed at restoring the rule of law in Poland. He emphasized a resolute yet law-abiding approach in addressing these pressing issues.

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