Political drama has gripped Poland in recent days, as the country’s ruling coalition faces internal rifts and the presidential race heats up with chaotic, high-stakes debates. The events unfolding in Warsaw and provincial towns like Końskie offer a vivid snapshot of a nation at a crossroads—torn between its pro-European ambitions, conservative traditions, and anxieties over security on NATO’s eastern flank.
On September 26, 2025, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centre-left coalition suffered a significant blow in parliament. The loss came during a vote on legislation proposed by President Karol Nawrocki, a conservative closely allied with the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party. The bill in question sought to revive the ambitious central airport project near Warsaw—a mega-airport with integrated rail and road hubs, originally championed by the previous PiS government. Tusk’s camp, which had once dismissed the project as unnecessary and grandiose, had already scaled back its scope and extended the timeline after taking office. But the vote exposed deep fissures in the governing alliance.
The drama centered on the Poland 2050 party, a centrist coalition partner. Nine of its MPs, including party leader and Speaker of Parliament Szymon Hołownia, broke ranks to support the President’s legislation. Twelve more abstained, despite an earlier coalition agreement to oppose the bill in lockstep. The result: Tusk’s government lost the first reading by a margin of 211 to 203, sending the legislation to committee for further debate.
Tusk’s response was swift and sharp. He declared, “I do not accept this voting,” warning that the episode “bodes very poorly for the future with regard to the way Poland 2050 and Speaker Hołownia are behaving.” According to sources close to the Prime Minister, reported by Onet, Tusk is considering removing Poland 2050 from the coalition—a move that could force his government into minority status or prompt his resignation. The coalition, already a fragile alliance of the Civil Coalition (KO), Poland 2050, the Polish People’s Party (PSL), and the Left Party, has struggled with unity on contentious issues ranging from abortion and LGBT rights to tax and housing policy.
Hołownia, for his part, attempted to calm the waters. He told reporters that the decision to back the President’s bill at first reading was motivated by caution: “We must be extremely cautious about rejecting bills at first reading.” He added, “This does not mean adoption of the bill. We do not pass bills with the opposition, only with the ruling coalition.” Still, the incident underscored just how precarious the coalition’s majority has become.
The same day brought further signs of discord. During another parliamentary session, PSL deputies joined the opposition—along with some Poland 2050 MPs—to advance a bill increasing religious education hours in schools to the committee stage. Tusk’s majority, once again, appeared divided on a hot-button cultural issue.
Meanwhile, President Nawrocki scored another political victory by signing new legislation on support for Ukrainian refugees. The law, effective until March 2026, makes continued access to certain social benefits conditional on employment and restricts some health treatments for refugees. Zbigniew Bogucki, Nawrocki’s chief of staff, explained that the bill ends the “completely incomprehensible and unacceptable situation” of foreigners receiving taxpayer-funded support “without contributing themselves.” He emphasized that this would be the last such law signed by the President, and that after March, Ukrainian citizens would be treated like all other foreigners in Poland. The move resolved a months-long standoff between the President and Tusk’s government, which had previously seen Nawrocki veto an extension of broader refugee support.
All this political turbulence comes as Poland prepares for a pivotal presidential election scheduled for May 18, 2026. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will follow on June 1. The campaign trail has been anything but smooth, with recent debates laying bare the country’s deep divisions.
On September 26, eight presidential hopefuls gathered in Końskie for a pair of debates that quickly devolved into bickering and chaos. The first debate, held outdoors and broadcast by right-wing stations, featured rowdy crowds booing and whistling at candidates. The second, more formal debate aired by mainstream networks TVN, TVP, and Polsat, offered a bit more clarity but no less drama. The debates tackled existential questions: Poland’s security in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the future of NATO, energy independence, and whether to revive compulsory military conscription. Most frontrunners opposed a return to the draft, while opinions on energy policy ranged from support for renewables and nuclear to continued reliance on coal. Only one candidate favored cheap Russian energy.
The two leading contenders—liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and conservative historian Karol Nawrocki—embodied the country’s ideological split. Trzaskowski, polling above 30%, represents Tusk’s pro-European party, while Nawrocki, with just over 20%, is backed by the national conservative PiS. Far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, who briefly surged in polls, refused to participate in the debates, dismissing them as a “circus.”
The debates were not without theatrics. In a pointed gesture, Nawrocki placed a rainbow flag on Trzaskowski’s podium to highlight LGBTQ+ issues—a move Trzaskowski rebuffed, retorting, “You have an obsession with gays.” Later, left-wing lawmaker Magdalena Biejat placed the flag on her own podium, signaling solidarity with LGBTQ+ rights. The moment captured the cultural and political polarization that marks the current climate.
Security concerns loomed large. The specter of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and doubts about continued U.S. military support under a possible Donald Trump presidency were front and center. Earlier that week, the United States announced it was relocating personnel and equipment from the Jasionka airport near Rzeszów—a key hub for Western aid to Ukraine—prompting fears of broader American withdrawal. Both U.S. and Polish officials stressed that the move was merely a redeployment within Poland, but anxieties remain high.
The debates also saw fiery accusations. Szymon Hołownia, the Speaker of Parliament, openly accused candidate Maciej Maciak—who advocated for cheap Russian energy—of working for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Tell me, do you take money from Putin or do you do it as a volunteer?” Hołownia challenged, reflecting the charged atmosphere and the stakes involved.
Behind the scenes, political careers are also in flux. According to the coalition agreement, Hołownia is set to retire as Speaker in mid-November, to be succeeded by Left Party leader Włodzimierz Czarzasty. On September 27, Hołownia announced he would step down as leader of Poland 2050 early in the new year, with reports suggesting he is seeking a post at the United Nations in Geneva.
As Poland’s political drama unfolds, the outcome remains uncertain. The coalition’s future hangs in the balance, the presidential race is wide open, and the nation’s security anxieties show no sign of easing. For now, one thing is clear: Poland’s democracy is alive, if not always orderly, and the stakes for its future could hardly be higher.