Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting in Warsaw, Tusk acknowledged the shifting political landscape following the narrow victory of opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki over centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
“We are meeting in a new political reality,” Tusk said. "The reality is new because we have a new president. But the constitution, our responsibilities and the expectations of citizens remain unchanged. In Poland, it is the government that governs—and that is both an honour and a great responsibility."
Tusk said the confidence vote would serve as a "new beginning" and offer a "periodic assessment" of both his government’s overall work and the performance of individual ministries.
After a year and a half in office, he acknowledged that "some things could have been done better or faster," but stressed the coalition’s readiness to continue governing.
Tusk first announced the plan for a confidence vote in a televised address to the nation on Monday.
"I want everyone to see—including our opponents, both at home and abroad—that we are prepared for this situation," he said at the time. "We understand the gravity of the moment, but we have no intention of taking even a single step back."
Nawrocki, a pro-Trump Euroskeptic, won Sunday’s runoff with 50.89 percent of the vote, edging out Trzaskowski, who garnered 49.11 percent, according to final results from the National Electoral Commission.
The result dealt a blow to Tusk’s pro-European government because the president holds veto power over legislation.
While the head of state does not govern directly, Nawrocki’s victory is expected to complicate the coalition’s efforts to advance its pro-EU agenda.
The closely watched race also underscored deep political and social divisions in Poland, which shares a border with war-torn Ukraine and plays a key role on NATO's eastern flank.
Nawrocki is set to be sworn in on August 6, succeeding outgoing conservative President Andrzej Duda, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP