2023 political alliance in Poland
The 15 October Coalition (Polish: Koalicja 15 października) has been the ruling government of Poland since 13 December 2023.[1][2] It is a big tent coalition that includes various political parties. The coalition was formed after the parliamentary election held on 15 October.
The prime minister–designate Donald Tusk coined the term in his speech to the Sejm, announcing the new government's plans after a vote of no confidence for Mateusz Morawiecki.[3][4]
Prior to assuming power, the parties opposing the ruling Law and Justice-led United Right (with the exception of the far-right Confederation) were referred to as the Democratic Opposition (Polish: Demokratyczna opozycja) in the lead up to the 2023 elections.
The firmly left wing Left Together party originally planned to enter the coalition, together with the New Left party as part of The Left coalition. However, due to a number of key issues being left out of the coalition agreement, the party has opted to stay out of government but has also voted to support Tusk's government in votes of confidence.[5]
Law and Justice politicians and some right-wing media referred to the coalition as the 13 December Coalition. The name referred to the date of the establishment of the government by President Andrzej Duda on 13 December 2023 and was an allusion to the 42nd anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland on 13 December 1981 by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.[6]
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