Poland - October 2023
Opposition best placed to form government following elections
Following parliamentary elections held on 15 October, the incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) party won the largest share of the vote (35.4 per cent), but it was unable to hold onto its majority in Parliament. All seats in both houses of Parliament (the Sejm and the Senate) were contested. The main opposition party, Civic Platform (KO), came second with 30.7 per cent of the vote and 157 seats. Its two likely coalition partners, Third Way (Trzecia Droga) and The Left (Lewica) finished with 14.4 per cent of the vote (65 seats) and 8.6 per cent (26 seats) respectively. Far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) secured 7.2 per cent of the vote and 18 seats. Voter turnout was 74.4 per cent. The lower house will comprise 136 women lawmakers (29.6 per cent), and 17 women were elected to the upper house (17 per cent). A total of 44 per cent of candidates standing in the elections were women. According to international observers, the elections were competitive but characterized by public media bias and mismanagement of public resources.
Sources: Wybory, Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Notes from Poland (3), Notes from Poland (4), Action Network, International IDEA, OSCE
