Former European Council President Donald Tusk is anticipated to assume the role of prime minister in Poland on Monday, marking a parliamentary session that is poised to capture the nation's attention.
Poland, a member of the European Union and NATO has witnessed an unprecedented surge in interest in legislative proceedings following the October 15 election, which granted a majority to a broad alliance of pro-European Union parties led by Tusk.
Subscriptions to the parliament's YouTube channel surged to approximately 439,000 on Sunday, reflecting the heightened public interest. Specific sessions have drawn over a million viewers on the platform, and a Warsaw cinema even decided to broadcast Monday's session on the big screen, with tickets selling out in advance.
Michal Kobosko, deputy head of the Poland 2050 party, part of the coalition set to assume power, remarked, "Monday and Tuesday are two of the most important days in Polish history since 1989," referring to the year Communist rule ended.
Incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party secured the first position in the election, and President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, granted him the initial opportunity to form a government. However, forming a government appears nearly impossible for Morawiecki, as he lacks a majority, and all other parties have ruled out collaboration with PiS.
Morawiecki is set to address the chamber on Monday, followed by a vote of confidence. While the prospects of him remaining prime minister seem slim, PiS lawmaker Radoslaw Fogiel views the speech as an opportunity to present the party's vision for the nation, making it a framework for future political endeavors.
PiS aims to contrast its blend of conservative social values and left-leaning economic policies with Tusk's liberal program, accusing it of being influenced by foreign interests and indifferent to the well-being of less affluent Poles.
If Morawiecki loses the vote, the responsibility of selecting a new prime minister will fall to parliament, where Tusk has the backing of a clear majority. He would then address the chamber on Tuesday.
The October election signaled Poland's return to the European mainstream after eight years of PiS rule, marked by criticism for undermining judicial independence, transforming state-owned media into propaganda outlets, and fostering prejudice against minorities.
Katarzyna Lubnauer, a lawmaker from Tusk's Civic Coalition (KO) grouping, noted the interest in parliamentary proceedings, attributing it to the "miracle" of record turnout that gave the opposition a majority despite the challenges posed by state-controlled media.
The appointment of a celebrity, Szymon Holownia, as the speaker of parliament, has also contributed to the heightened interest. Holownia's charismatic approach and humorous demeanor have resonated with viewers, adding a touch of entertainment to the proceedings.
However, not everyone is enamored with this approach, as Fogiel expressed a preference for a speaker who focuses less on infotainment from a parliamentary standpoint.
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