WARSAW: Poland’s pro-EU opposition on Monday was set to win a parliamentary majority, partial results showed, a day after a national election which saw the highest turnout since the fall of Communism.

The surprise result would end eight years of rule by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, during which relations with the European Union — and in recent weeks with war-torn Ukraine — have dramatically soured.

The opposition, led by former EU chief Donald Tusk, had billed the parliamentary elections as the “last chance” to save democracy. “This is the end of grim times,” Tusk declared late on Sunday.

With more than 80 per cent of votes counted, PiS was in the lead but without a majority at 37pc, while Tusk’s Civic Coalition, the Third Way and Left parties together had 52pc.

Putting the liberal opposition in power would bring a huge political shift in Poland.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2023