Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska (right) is congratulated after she easily survived a no-confidence vote in Poland's parliament on Thursday.Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada
The motion, submitted by lawmakers from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party and the far-right Confederation grouping, was backed by 213 MPs, while 238 voted against. No one abstained.
Opposition lawmakers accused Hennig-Kloska of lacking competence and acting against Poland's energy security.
In their motion, signed by more than 80 legislators, they cited what they described as legislative missteps, chaotic decision-making and inadequate analysis of the social and economic impact of government policies.
They also criticised her handling of climate policies, including the European Union’s emissions trading system (ETS), and pointed to what they said were irregularities in the government's Clean Air programme.
The government additionally faced accusations of pursuing misguided renewable energy policies.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed the criticism, saying the opposition was seeking to turn politics into "constant confrontation."
He described the justification for the no-confidence vote as weak and defended Hennig-Kloska's work, saying much of her effort has focused on addressing issues inherited from the previous right-wing administration.
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Source: IAR, PAP