2015 Polish parliamentary election

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2015 Polish parliamentary election
Flag of Poland.svg
  2011 25 October 2015 2019  

All 460 seats in the Sejm
231 seats needed for a majority
Turnout50.92%
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Premier RP Beata Szydlo w Parlamencie UE.jpg
Ewa Kopacz - Konwencja PO (cropped).jpg
Pawel Kukiz Sejm 2016 01.JPG
Leader Beata Szydło Ewa Kopacz Paweł Kukiz
Party PiS PO Kukiz'15
Last election29.89%, 157 seats39.18%, 207 seatsNew party
Seats won23513842
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 78Decrease2.svg 69New
Popular vote5,711,6873,661,4741,339,094
Percentage37.58%24.09%8.81%
SwingIncrease2.svg 7.69 pp Decrease2.svg 15.09 pp New party

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Ryszard Petru Sejm 02 2016.JPG
J.Piechocinski.JPG
Ryszard Galla posel (cropped).jpg
Leader Ryszard Petru Janusz Piechociński Ryszard Galla
Party .N PSL MN
Last electionNew party8.36%, 28 seats0.19%, 1 seat
Seats won28161
Seat changeNewDecrease2.svg 12Steady2.svg
Popular vote1,155,370779,87527,530
Percentage7.60%5.13%0.18%
SwingNew partyDecrease2.svg 3.23 pp Decrease2.svg 0.01 pp

2015 Polish parliamentary election.svg
Seats won by Sejm District

Government before election

Kopacz cabinet
POPSL

Elected Government

Szydło cabinet
PiS (ZP)

Parliamentary elections were held in Poland on 25 October 2015. All 460 members of the Sejm and 100 senators of the Senate were elected. The election was won by the largest opposition party, the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS), with 38% of the vote against the governing Civic Platform (PO), which achieved 24%. Official results, announced on 27 October, gave Law and Justice 235 of the 460 seats, a majority of four. [1] PiS vice chairwoman Beata Szydło succeeded PO leader Ewa Kopacz as Prime Minister of Poland, heading a one-party cabinet.

Contents

It was the first election for a national parliament in Europe since the 1993 Norwegian elections in which the two largest parties were led by a female candidate, and the second election in history (also since the 1993 Norwegian election) where more than three parties fielded female leadership candidates. It was also the first election in Poland since the restoration of full democracy that a party won an absolute majority in the Sejm.

Following PiS's victory in the May 2015 presidential elections, PiS would have control over both the presidency and parliament for the next eight years.

Electoral system

The process of election for the Sejm is through open party-list proportional representation via the D'hondt method in multi-seat constituencies, with a 5% national threshold for single parties and 8% threshold for coalitions (requirements waived for ethnic minorities). The senate is elected using first-past-the-post voting in single-member districts. [2] To be included on a ballot, a senate candidate must present 2,000 signatures of support from their constituents. [3] For Sejm elections, the threshold is 5,000 signatures per constituency, though that requirement is waived for parties that have already registered lists in at least half of all constituencies (21 out of 41 as of this election). [4]

Overall, the Sejm includes 460 MPs. Should a party have 231 or more deputies in Parliament, it has an absolute majority and can thus govern autonomously, without the need for support from other parties. The constitution can be amended with a supermajority of two-thirds, or 307 deputies.

Election date

The date of the election, 25 October, was set by the previous President of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski. [5] The latest possible date for the election to be held was in November 2015, four years after the previous election. Prior to the announcement of the election date, the most likely dates were thought to be in October or November.

In the previous parliamentary elections in 2011 the Civic PlatformPolish People's Party coalition government, in power since 2007, won a second term. All 460 seats in the Sejm and 100 seats in the Senate were up for election.

Contesting parties

Nationwide committees

PartyLeaderIdeologies Political spectrum Political groups of the European Parliament
Civic Platform (PO) Ewa Kopacz Christian democracy, Liberal conservatism, Pro-Europeanism [6] [7] [8] Centre [9] [10] [11] to Centre-right European People's Party Group (EPP)
Law and Justice (PiS)
Solidary Poland (SP)
Poland Together – United Right (PRZP)
Right Wing of the Republic (PRz)
Jarosław Kaczyński
Beata Szydło (PM candidate)
National conservatism, Social conservatism, Euroscepticism Right-wing [12] [13] [14] to far-right [15] European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)
United Left [16] [17] [18] [19] (ZL)
Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)
Your Movement (TR)
Polish Socialist Party (PPS)
Labour Union (UP)
The Greens (Zieloni)
Polish Labour Party [20] (PPP)
Barbara Nowacka Social democracy, Social liberalism, Social progressivism, Green politics, Democratic socialism (minority), Feminism [17] [20] [21] [22] Centre-left to Left-wing Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
Polish People's Party (PSL) Janusz Piechociński Christian democracy, strongly based around Agrarianism, Conservatism Centre-right European People's Party Group (EPP)
Parties not in the Sejm before the election are below
Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic - Liberty and Hope (KORWiN) Janusz Korwin-Mikke Right libertarianism, Anti-immigration, Hard-Euroscepticism, Paleolibertarianism [23] Right-wing [24] Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD)
Kukiz'15 (K'15) Paweł Kukiz Populism, Anti-establishment, Anti-particracy [25] Big tent [26] to Right-wing [27]
.Modern (.N) Ryszard Petru Social liberalism, Economic liberalism, Pro-Europeanism Centre-left
Together (Razem)collective leadership Social democracy, Democratic socialism, Progressivism Left-wing

Regional committees

PartyLeaderIdeologyPolitical spectrum Political groups of the European Parliament
German Minority Electoral Committee (MN) Ryszard Galla Regionalism, German minority interests Centre
Parties not in the Sejm before the election are below
Congress of the New Right (KNP) Michał Marusik Right libertarianism, New Right, Euroscepticism Right-wing Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF)
Single-member district – Nonpartisan (JOW Bezpartyjni) Robert Raczyński Pro single-member constituency Big tent
Committee of Zbigniew Stonoga (KWW ZS) Zbigniew Stonoga Anti-communism, Civil libertarianism, Populism Big tent
Social Movement of the Republic of Poland (RS RP) Sławomir Izdebski Agrarian socialism, Left-wing populism Left-wing
United for Silesia (ZdŚ) Dietmar Brehmer Silesian regionalism, Fiscal federalism Centre
Self-Defence (Samoobrona) Lech Kuropatwiński Agrarianism, Left-wing nationalism Left-wing
God Bless! (SzB!) Grzegorz Braun Monarchism, Traditionalism, Ordoliberalism Right-wing
Citizens to Parliament (OdP)Jan Zbigniew Potocki Liberal democracy Big tent

Opinion polls

Election polls Model sondazy.png
Election polls

Results

The opposition party, Law and Justice won the election with 37.58% of the vote against the governing Civic Platform, which gained a 24.09% share. [28] Beata Szydło became the new Prime Minister, succeeding Ewa Kopacz. [29] [30] Law and Justice became the first party in Poland to win majority government in a free election, since 1991. The other parties considered winners were two newcomer parties, Kukiz's Movement (third place) and Ryszard Petru's Modern party (4th place).

Two of the biggest losers were Civic Platform and the Polish People's Party. PO suffered its worst result in a parliamentary election in ten years, ending eight years of political dominance. The PSL, the junior partner in the outgoing government, had its worst result in 25 years (5.13%), just crossing the 5% threshold by a few thousand votes. Another perceived loser was the Democratic Left Alliance, Poland's largest left-wing party, which failed to win a seat for the first time since the change of system. The SLD ran as the largest partner of the United Left, which was 0.5% short of the 8% threshold for electoral alliances to win seats.

Sejm

Results of the Sejm election by electoral district. Blue represents Law and Justice, and orange Civic Platform. Polish Sejm election results 2015.svg
Results of the Sejm election by electoral district. Blue represents Law and Justice, and orange Civic Platform.
Polish Sejm Election 2015.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Law and Justice 5,711,68737.58235+78
Civic Platform 3,661,47424.09138–69
Kukiz'15 1,339,0948.8142New
Modern 1,155,3707.6028New
United Left 1,147,1027.550–67
Polish People's Party 779,8755.1316–12
KORWiN 722,9994.760New
Together 550,3493.620New
Committee of Zbigniew Stonoga42,7310.280New
German Minority Electoral Committee 27,5300.1810
United for Silesia 18,6680.120New
JOW Bezpartyjni 15,6560.100New
Committee of Grzegorz Braun "God Bless You!"13,1130.090New
Congress of the New Right 4,8520.0300
Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland 4,2660.0300
Social Movement of the Republic of Poland 3,9410.030New
Citizens to Parliament 1,9640.010New
Total15,200,671100.004600
Valid votes15,200,67197.47
Invalid/blank votes394,6642.53
Total votes15,595,335100.00
Registered voters/turnout30,629,15050.92
Source: PKW

Party breakdown

Party or allianceVotes%Seats
United Right Law and Justice 4,487,33929.52193
Independents746,4744.9126
Sovereign Poland 277,6221.839
Poland Together 145,3580.966
Right Wing of the Republic 48,4420.321
Piast Faction 6,4520.040
Total5,711,68737.58235
Civic Platform Civic Platform 3,142,76720.68126
Independents516,4573.4012
Polish People's Party [a] 2,2500.010
Total3,661,47424.09138
Kukiz'15 Independents1,207,4197.9437
National Movement 73,6410.483
Congress of the New Right [a] 25,8310.171
Real Politics Union 12,0800.081
Direct Democracy 7,6110.050
Right Wing of the Republic 4,4090.030
Self-Defence [a] 2,1380.010
Libertarian Party1,6640.010
Poland Together 1,3060.010
Labour Party 1,0610.010
Sovereign Poland 1,0120.010
Community9220.010
Total1,339,0948.8142
Modern Independents965,1306.3523
Modern 185,1881.225
Women's Party 3,7070.020
Polish People's Party [a] 8750.010
Civic Platform [a] 4700.000
Total1,155,3707.6028
United Left Democratic Left Alliance 694,1504.570
Your Movement 220,3261.450
Independents164,3451.080
The Greens 35,2920.230
Labour Union 18,1810.120
Alliance of Democrats 3,7960.020
Polish Socialist Party 3,6210.020
Polish Labour Party - August 80 3,5860.020
Social Democracy of Poland 1,6000.010
National Party of Retirees and Pensioners 1,0980.010
Democratic Party – demokraci.pl 8500.010
Total1,147,1027.550
Polish People's Party Polish People's Party 673,4834.4316
Independents106,3920.700
Total779,8755.1316
KORWiN KORWiN 480,0293.160
Independents231,8101.530
Congress of the New Right [a] 8,0850.050
National Movement 2,9190.020
Libertarian Party880.000
Total722,9994.760
Together Together 501,1953.300
Independents49,1540.320
Total550,3493.620
Committee of Zbigniew StonogaIndependents42,7310.280
German Minority Independents27,5300.181
United for SilesiaIndependents18,6680.120
JOW BezpartyjniIndependents15,2340.100
National Party of Retirees and Pensioners 4220.000
Total15,6560.100
Committee of Grzegorz Braun
"God Bless You!"
Independents11,2280.070
Unity of the Nation5200.000
Real Politics Union 4770.000
Congress of the New Right [a] 3560.000
Popular National Alliance1150.000
National Movement 1390.000
Sovereign Poland 770.000
League of Polish Families 550.000
Community500.000
Law and Justice [a] 430.000
National Alliance of the Name of Dmowski Roman270.000
Brave Dad140.000
Right Wing of the Republic 120.000
Total13,1130.090
Congress of the New Right Congress of the New Right 2,8500.020
Independents2,0020.010
Total4,8520.030
Self-Defence Self-Defence 2,6600.020
Independents1,6060.010
Total4,2660.030
Social Movement of
the Republic of Poland
Social Justice Movement 2,7530.020
Independents9860.010
White-Red1920.000
Freedom and Equality 100.000
Total3,9410.030
Citizens to ParliamentIndependents1,7900.010
Alliance of Democrats 1550.000
Civic Platform [a] 190.000
Total1,9640.010
Total15,200,346100.00460
Source: National Electoral Commission [b]

By constituency

ConstituencyTurnout PiS PO Kukiz'15 Modern ZL PSL KORWiN Razem MN OthersLead
1 – Legnica 46.7135.7025.249.597.1510.453.894.323.64-0.0010.46
2 – Wałbrzych 44.8331.1532.658.816.648.763.184.303.41-1.091.50
3 – Wrocław 54.0831.2130.498.7410.656.102.605.224.21-0.770.72
4 – Bydgoszcz 47.8730.2029.647.777.3010.046.074.543.76-0.680.56
5 – Toruń 44.9033.5725.778.326.5010.766.753.903.65-0.787.80
6 – Lublin 52.0147.5716.599.324.545.987.745.002.75-0.5230.98
7 – Chełm 45.3048.0212.3110.473.757.1111.394.372.39-0.1835.71
8 – Zielona Góra 44.6328.2728.218.759.9910.025.124.993.99-0.650.06
9 – Łódź 56.7429.9031.287.248.9910.482.704.784.63-0.001.38
10 – Piotrków Trybunalski 50.2646.9515.4610.085.597.477.483.913.06-0.0031.49
11 – Sieradz 48.4739.9321.188.925.328.187.864.103.54-0.9818.75
12 – Chrzanów 54.4649.0520.428.675.795.333.034.453.26-0.0028.63
13 – Kraków 58.8138.6224.617.269.736.382.706.353.88-0.4814.01
14 – Nowy Sącz 52.1860.5613.957.833.692.554.164.312.13-0.8046.61
15 – Tarnów 51.8551.9914.719.604.543.418.084.722.43-0.5337.28
16 – Płock 46.2243.7816.448.415.158.1410.664.073.35-0.0027.34
17 – Radom 49.3847.4917.558.414.814.829.423.912.62-0.9829.94
18 – Siedlce 50.5651.1013.558.364.634.3510.234.352.66-0.7637.55
19 – Warsaw I 70.8029.8927.547.7613.398.550.726.185.54-0.432.35
20 – Warsaw II 60.0038.8025.127.2210.015.663.804.813.85-0.7313.68
21 – Opole 43.1227.7726.2312.577.146.753.683.953.028.140.751.54
22 – Krosno 47.4753.5113.769.153.974.567.284.282.32-1.1739.75
23 – Rzeszów 52.5656.1113.119.284.164.424.674.962.29-1.0043.00
24 – Białystok 47.1045.3816.749.075.377.358.074.662.59-0.7728.64
25 – Gdańsk 52.5529.6134.727.159.176.593.025.003.98-0.755.11
26 – Gdynia 51.2831.2233.468.028.226.643.234.434.05-0.752.24
27 – Bielsko-Biała 56.3540.4223.579.368.276.563.424.683.72-0.0016.82
28 – Częstochowa 49.8335.8220.9511.636.7411.124.994.273.64-0.8414.87
29 – Gliwice 49.1230.5128.9912.198.907.212.505.094.15-0.481.52
30 – Rybnik 51.8239.5924.2111.316.335.931.794.533.33-2.9815.38
31 – Katowice 53.9232.9228.3710.058.666.770.995.554.08-2.614.55
32 – Sosnowiec 51.4129.6525.5610.248.9713.972.354.814.44-0.004.09
33 – Kielce 46.8242.8117.259.414.987.879.514.142.80-1.2325.56
34 – Elbląg 41.3031.5630.128.245.827.696.694.733.80-1.341.44
35 – Olsztyn 43.1330.4227.078.976.828.768.445.103.74-0.683.35
36 – Kalisz 47.2731.8524.697.987.048.8210.984.253.17-1.237.16
37 – Konin 46.6437.4120.238.836.9411.776.863.993.98-0.0017.18
38 – Piła 46.0727.2631.029.016.989.157.664.073.92-0.933.76
39 – Poznań 60.2323.9035.656.0614.498.071.914.774.60-0.5511.75
40 – Koszalin 43.6328.5830.079.418.0611.384.134.463.90-0.001.49
41 – Szczecin 47.2729.0931.938.428.668.563.885.334.12-0.002.84
Poland50.9237.5824.098.817.607.555.134.763.620.180.6913.49

Senate

Results of the Senate election by single-mandate districts. Blue represents Law and Justice, orange - Civic Platform, green - Polish People Party, grey - independents. Polish Senate election results 2015.svg
Results of the Senate election by single-mandate districts. Blue represents Law and Justice, orange - Civic Platform, green - Polish People Party, grey - independents.
Results of elections 1991-2015 Procentowe wyniki wyborow do Sejmu.png
Results of elections 1991–2015
POL Senat RP seats 2015.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Law and Justice 5,993,43339.9961+30
Civic Platform 4,323,78928.8534–29
Polish People's Party 1,109,6757.401–1
United Left 595,2063.9700
Modern 394,8172.630New
Kukiz'15 207,1561.380New
KORWiN 186,5101.240New
JOW Bezpartyjni 113,6690.760New
Citizens to Parliament 84,2460.560New
Congress of the New Right 79,9460.5300
Democratic Party 64,8290.4300
National Revival of Poland 57,0120.3800
German Minority Electoral Committee 40,4720.2700
Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland 20,9130.1400
Social Movement of the Republic of Poland 14,3160.100New
Whites–Reds 10,9730.070New
Committee of Zbigniew Stonoga10,1670.070New
Slavic Union 9,5620.060New
Committee of Grzegorz Braun "God Bless You!"7,9160.050New
Real Politics Union 6,1900.0400
Patriotic Poland 6,0900.0400
National Movement 5,4620.040New
Labour Party 3,3800.0200
Piast – Unity of the Thoughts of European Nations1,7860.010New
Independents1,640,57110.9540
Total14,988,086100.001000
Valid votes14,988,08696.12
Invalid/blank votes604,9473.88
Total votes15,593,033100.00
Registered voters/turnout30,629,15050.91
Source: PKW, PKW

By constituency

#VoivodeshipCommission#ResultElected member
1 Lower Silesian Legnica I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Rafał Ślusarz
2II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Krzysztof Mróz
3III Law and Justice hold Dorota Czudowska
4 Wałbrzych I Civic Coalition hold Wiesław Kilian
5II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Aleksander Szwed
6 Wrocław I Civic Coalition hold Jarosław Duda
7II Civic Coalition hold Barbara Zdrojewska
8III Independent holdJarosław Obremski
9 Kuyavian-Pomeranian Bydgoszcz I Civic Coalition hold Andrzej Kobiak
10II Civic Coalition hold Jan Rulewski
11 Toruń I Civic Coalition holdPrzemysław Termiński
12II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Andrzej Mioduszewski
13III Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Józef Łyczak
14 Lublin Lublin I Law and Justice hold Stanisław Gogacz
15II Law and Justice hold Grzegorz Czelej
16III Law and Justice holdAndrzej Stanisławek
17 Chełm I Independent hold Grzegorz Bierecki
18II Polish People's Party hold Józef Zając
19III Law and Justice hold Jerzy Chróścikowski
20 Lubusz Zielona Góra I Civic Coalition hold Waldemar Sługocki
21II Civic Coalition hold Władysław Komarnicki
22III Civic Coalition hold Robert Dowhan
23 Łódź Łódź I Civic Coalition hold Maciej Grubski
24II Civic Coalition holdRyszard Bonisławski
25 Sieradz I Law and Justice hold Przemysław Błaszczyk
26II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Maciej Łuczak
27III Law and Justice hold Michał Seweryński
28 Piotrków Trybunalski I Law and Justice hold Wiesław Dobkowski
29II Law and Justice hold Rafał Ambrozik
30 Lesser Poland Kraków I Law and Justice hold Andrzej Pająk
31II Law and Justice hold Marek Pęk
32III Civic Coalition hold Jerzy Fedorowicz
33IV Civic Coalition hold Bogdan Klich
34 Tarnów I Law and Justice holdZbigniew Cichoń
35II Law and Justice hold Kazimierz Wiatr
36 Nowy Sącz I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Jan Hamerski
37II Law and Justice hold Stanisław Kogut
38 Masovian Płock I Law and Justice hold Marek Martynowski
39II Law and Justice holdJan Jackowski
40 Warszawa I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Jan Żaryn
41II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Konstanty Radziwiłł
42III Independent hold Marek Borowski
43IV Civic Coalition hold Marek Rocki
44V Civic Coalition hold Barbara Borys-Damięcka
45VI Civic Coalition hold Aleksander Pociej
46 Siedlce I Law and Justice hold Robert Mamątow
47II Law and Justice hold Maria Koc
48III Law and Justice hold Waldemar Kraska
49 Radom I Law and Justice hold Stanisław Karczewski
50II Law and Justice hold Adam Bielan
51 Opole Opole I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Jerzy Czerwiński
52II Civic Coalition holdPiotr Wach
53III Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Grzegorz Peczkis
54 Subcarpathian Rzeszów I Law and Justice hold Janina Sagatowska
55II Law and Justice hold Zdzisław Pupa
56III Law and Justice hold Aleksander Bobko
57 Krosno I Law and Justice hold Alicja Zając
58II Law and Justice hold Mieczysław Golba
59 Podlaskie Białystok I Law and Justice hold Bohdan Paszkowski
60II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Jan Dobrzyński
61III Law and Justice gain from Independent Tadeusz Romańczuk
62 Pomeranian Słupsk I Civic Coalition hold Kazimierz Kleina
63II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Waldemar Bonkowski
64III Civic Coalition hold Sławomir Rybicki
65 Gdańsk I Civic Coalition hold Bogdan Borusewicz
66II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Antoni Szymański
67III Civic Coalition hold Leszek Czarnobaj
68 Silesian Częstochowa I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Ryszard Majer
69II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Artur Warzocha
70 Katowice I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Krystian Probierz
71II Civic Coalition hold Maria Pańczyk-Pozdziej
72 Bielsko-Biała I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Adam Gawęda
73II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Wojciech Piecha
74 Katowice III Civic Coalition holdLeszek Piechota
75IV Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Czesław Ryszka
76V Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Arkadiusz Grabowski
77VI Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Michał Potoczny
78 Bielsko-Biała III Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Andrzej Kamiński
79IV Law and Justice hold Tadeusz Kopeć
80 Katowice VII Civic Coalition gain from Independent Andrzej Misiołek
81 Świętokrzyskie Kielce I Law and Justice hold Jacek Włosowicz
82II Law and Justice hold Jarosław Rusiecki
83III Law and Justice hold Krzysztof Słoń
84 Warmian-Masurian Elbląg I Civic Coalition hold Jerzy Wcisła
85II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Bogusława Orzechowska
86 Olsztyn I Independent gain from Civic Coalition Lidia Staroń
87II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Małgorzata Kopiczko
88 Greater Poland Piła I Civic Coalition holdMieczysław Augustyn
89II Civic Coalition holdJan Libicki
90 Poznań I Civic Coalition holdPiotr Florek
91II Civic Coalition hold Jadwiga Rotnicka
92 Konin I Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Robert Gaweł
93II Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Margareta Budner
94 Kalisz I Civic Coalition holdMarian Poślednik
95II Law and Justice gain from Polish People's Party Łukasz Mikołajczyk
96III Law and Justice gain from Civic Coalition Andrzej Wojtyła
97 West Pomeranian Szczecin I Civic Coalition hold Tomasz Grodzki
98II Civic Coalition hold Grzegorz Napieralski
99 Koszalin I Civic Coalition holdGrażyna Sztark
100II Civic Coalition holdPiotr Zientarski

Reactions

Political analysts noted that the election marked the first time in the post-communist era that a political party received enough votes to form a majority government. [31] [32] BBC News suggested that Law and Justice's strategy of putting forward Szydło as its candidate for prime minister was a "winning formula" in the election. Szydło was widely perceived as being more moderate than PiS' outspoken leader, Jarosław Kaczyński. However, it also noted that Kaczyński could step into the role of prime minister after the election. [32]

According to the Associated Press, the new Sejm was the most right-wing parliament in Europe due to the absence of centre-left MPs in the chamber. All five parties in the Sejm tilted rightward on social issues. Between them, left-leaning alliances only gained 11 percent of the vote. [33]

Kopacz swiftly conceded defeat after exit polls from TVP showed PiS on its way to a majority, while Kaczyński declared victory and hailed his party's historic majority. [34] Kaczyński also paid tribute to his late brother, President Lech Kaczyński, who died in the 2010 plane crash. [30]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Individual members running on lists different from their own parties
  2. In result breakdown by candidate provided by the National Electoral Commission, the sum of party votes are different from final released vote totals for coalitions for United Left (by 257) and KORWiN (by 68). In the table, figures provided for each party are taken from the candidate breakdown while coalition sums are taken from the final result.

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