Donald Tusk sworn in as Poland's new PM

Donald Tusk, a former PM and European Council president, has been sworn in as Poland's new PM on Wednesday, marking the end of eight years of right-wing populist rule. Tusk, who previously held the prime ministerial office from 2007 to 2014, has made a commitment to restore Poland's standing within the European Union, particularly addressing strained relations resulting from rule-of-law infringements in Warsaw.

The swearing-in ceremony, conducted by Poland's president, witnessed the induction of Tusk's cabinet, which includes Radoslaw Sikorski as foreign minister and former ombudsman Adam Bodnar as justice minister. Notably, Tusk has emphasized that supporting war-torn Ukraine will be a top priority for his government.

This political development comes after the Law and Justice (PiS) party, despite winning the most seats in the October general election, failed to form viable coalitions. Tusk's Civic Coalition, securing the second position in the polls, successfully forged an alliance with two smaller pro-EU opposition groups, the Third Way and Left, garnering enough support to unseat the PiS from power.

However, Tusk's administration is expected to encounter ongoing challenges from PiS lawmakers, given the party's influence in various key institutions, including the presidency, central bank, supreme court, and other significant judicial and financial state bodies. As the new government takes charge, the dynamics of Polish politics are poised for a period of intense interactions, with potential legislative vetoes by President Andrzej Duda, whose term extends until 2025.