"We have shown that our choices, our efforts, have a much broader dimension than just our national issues [...] we have shown that we are a beacon of hope for Europe," Tusk stated to supporters following the announcement of exit poll results.
Tusk highlighted the implications for other European nations: "Those in power in Germany have no reason to be happy, and those in France have reason for dramatic sadness," adding, "Out of the large countries, Poland has shown that democracy triumphs here."
In France, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally won the vote, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a snap national election three years before his presidency ends.
Amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and a migrant crisis at the Belarus border, Tusk framed the election as a choice between a secure future within the EU or a riskier one under the nationalist, populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is known for its clashes with Brussels, Reuters reported.
The official results showed KO securing 37.06% of the votes, narrowly beating PiS, which garnered 36.16%, with the result marking the end of a decade-long winning streak for PiS.
Media reported that five political groups crossed the 5% threshold. The far-right Confederation alliance surprisingly took third place with 12.08% of the votes. The centrist Third Way and The Left, both part of the current government, received 6.91% and 6.3% respectively. The voter turnout was 40.65%.
Poland, allocated 53 seats out of 720 in the European Parliament, will distribute its seats using the D’Hondt method. This will result in 21 MEPs for the Civic Coalition, 20 for Law and Justice, 6 for Confederation, 3 for the Third Way, and 3 for The Left.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters