Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is about to face a vote of confidence in the Sejm on June 11, following the narrow defeat of his preferred candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, by Karol Nawrocki in the presidential run‑off on June 1.

Tusk requested the confidence vote to reinforce his leadership and show unity in response to internal criticism sparked by the election loss.

His coalition – comprising his Civic Coalition party, the Third Way (itself a coalition of Polska 2050 and the Polish People’s Party) – currently holds 242 out of 460 seats in the Sejm, a majority of 12.

That majority is expected to ensure his survival in the vote, but Trzaskowski's failure to win the presidency has revealed cracks in the alliance.

Tusk has described the vote as “a new opening, not defensive,” aimed at reinvigorating his government’s agenda. His plan also includes a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle and renegotiation of coalition terms in July.

Nawrocki’s victory is expected to constrain Tusk’s reform plans, however, especially judicial and abortion-rights legislation, as the new president wields veto power. The coalition lacks votes to override a president's dissent.

Nawrocki is also expected to paint the government ineffective by using vetoes. That, in turn, could sway the public opinion in favour of the radical right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which fielded him for president in early 2025.

Polls show only one‑third of Poles believe the government will last until 2027, the year of the next general election.