What does the Polish election mean for the future of the EU?

Opposition leader Donald Tusk claims ruling PiS party plans 'Polexit'

Montage of Polish politicians Kaczyński, Morawiecki, Duda and Tusk
From left: PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, President Andrzej Duda and opposition leader Donald Tusk
(Image credit: Illustrated / Getty Images / Shutterstock)

Poland's bitterly contested parliamentary election on Sunday could determine not only the country's immediate future but its place in the EU and its support for Ukraine. 

"The stakes are unusually high," said The Economist. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term, is led by former  prime minister and current deputy PM Jarosław Kaczyński. The largest opposition grouping, the centre-right Civic Coalition (KO), is led by Donald Tusk – another former prime minister. Tusk, also the former president of the European Council, told his supporters that the ruling Eurosceptic party was planning – "systematically, in cold blood" – to take Poland out of the EU, which PiS denies. 

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Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.