A vote of trust for the government of Donald Tusk. What is it and what for. “Sabers can be converted”

During the speech on June 2, the day after the second round of the presidential election, which was won by Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that he was requiring a vote of trust to the Sejm. He declared that the government would cooperate with the new president “in accordance with the Constitution and its own conscience.” “We will submit ready bills, but if necessary, we will rule and make decisions, also with trying to block good changes to the president. We already have experience” – he said. On June 3, Tusk announced that the Sejm would consider a vote of trust on Wednesday, June 11.

The prime minister's plan caused many comments. Sejm Marshal Szymon Hołownia, whose Polish 2050 group is in the government coalition, on June 2 called the conclusion “a bad idea and a theater gesture”. Krzysztof Bosak, co -chairman of the confederation, announced that the party's MPs would vote against the vote of confidence for the Tusk government. MEP Beata Szydło, PiS vice president, on Radio Zet to the question: “Should the Sejm be a vote of the government of Donald Tusk?”, “NO” replied. However, Magdalena Biejat, asked in “Piasecki's conversation” in Tvn24 She said about the sense of the conclusion: “This is the desire to show that the ruling coalition is still cooperating, that there is a majority for the government.” When asked if most votes will be obtained when voting on a vote of trust, she answered: “I think it will be.”

What should a vote of confidence in the government should be used and why has it served so far? We are reminding.

The vote of trust is a resolution of parliament, which aims to express support for the government. This tool is described by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It allows two situations: immediately after the government's appointment and at the request of the prime minister at any time of the government's term. Thus, in the case of the newly appointed government, the new Prime Minister must obtain a vote of trust for him on the basis of a provision:

The current government of Donald Tusk such a vote of trust received December 12, 2023.

During the term of office, the prime minister has the right to apply for a vote of trust to the Council of Ministers pursuant to art. 160 of the Constitution:

This procedure aims to formally express the approval for the current and planned activities of the current government. According to Regulations of the Sejm “Consideration of the application of the Prime Minister for the expression to the Council of Ministers a vote of trust takes place at the next sitting of the Sejm, and in the case of the case of submitting the application during the sitting of the Sejm – during its duration” (Article 117, paragraph 1). Before voting, deputies cannot give their speeches, because “the debate on the application only includes asking questions to the Prime Minister and his answers to questions” (Article 117, paragraph 2).

And if the government does not obtain the appropriate majority in the Sejm when voting for a vote of trust? According to the constitution, the prime minister must then resign with all the Council of Ministers and the procedure for appointing a new government begins. The current council of ministers is still being overwhelmed by his duties.

To establish a new government, the president indicates a new prime minister, which proposes the composition of the Council of Ministers, presents the government's action plan and applies to the Sejm for a vote of trust. This time you will need an absolute majority. If, however, a vote of trust was not adopted or the president would not select a new prime minister, then he is elected by deputies. Such a prime minister must also apply for a vote of trust, and an absolute majority of votes are also necessary to grant it. But if the government cannot be appointed this time, then the president appoints the prime minister, he submits the application for a vote of trust, but only an ordinary majority is enough to grant it.

If all these solutions are exhausted, and none of the prime ministers will receive a vote of trust for their council, after that the president shortens the parliamentary term and manages new elections.

Until now, after 1989, the prime ministers six times reached for such a tool as a vote of trust for their government, except for those necessary immediately after the creation of the Council of Ministers and expressing expose. Each time they gained the required majority of votes. They were successively:

Year 2003: Prime Minister Leszek Miller (government of the Democratic Left Alliance and the Labor Union) – when he decided to show support for his government after the Polish People's Party left the coalition. He passed the application by a 236 “in favor”, with 213 votes “against”.

2004: Prime Minister Marek Belka (government of the Democratic Left Alliance) applied for a vote of confidence after the information about the contacts of businessman Jan Kulczyk with the officer of the Soviet and Russian intelligence officer Vladimir Alganov during attempts to privatize the Polish oil sector. During their conversation in Vienna in 2003, the thread of the entrance of the Russians to the Polish market, the takeover of the Gdańsk Refinery by Russian Łukoil was to appear, and Kulczyk himself was to refer to the support of “the first” – he was to go to the then President Aleksander Kwasniewski, and Belka was considered “his premiere”. This thread was examined by the parliamentary investigation commission in the PKN Orlen case as threatening the state's energy security. The application for a vote of trust passed with 234 votes “for” to 218 “against”.

2012: Prime Minister Donald Tusk (government of the Civic Platform and the Polish People's Party) submitted a motion of trust after his report on his previous works, i.e. second expose. The application passed with 233 votes “for”, with 219 votes “against”.

2014: Prime Minister Donald Tusk (government of the Civic Platform and the Polish People's Party) – his next conclusion was a consequence of the so -called eavesdropping scandal, when recordings with the participation of some ministers were published. The application was supported by 237 MPs, which was the highest support for the government expressed in voting on the votive ahead.

2018: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (government of Law and Justice, agreement and sovereign Poland) submitted a motion for a vote of trust, ahead of voting over the vote of no confidence reported by the opposition after disclosing the scandal of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority. The prime minister's application received 231 votes “for”, which was the lowest support for this type of conclusion.

Year 2020: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (government of Law and Justice and sovereign Poland) applied about a vote of trust after meeting President Andrzej Duda. According to unofficial information, the president was to advise that, in the face of the fight against Covid-19 pandemic and plans to frostbage the economy after the Lockdown, the Prime Minister applied with such a conclusion, especially since the opposition at that time submitted a number of applications for the dismissal of individual ministers. The application for a vote of trust was voted in a ratio of 235 votes “for” to 219 votes “against”.

Political scientist dr hab. Anna Siewierska from the University of Rzeszów in an interview with Zasta24 comments that the application for a vote of confidence submitted by the prime minister “is a political tool used to confirm that the majority of the Sejm is still being, i.e. social legitimacy to exercise power is still being”. – Such a conclusion is in a sense to renew the legitimacy of governments. On the other hand, it can be a tool for disciplining your own environment. In this way, the sabers can be converted; Check who you can count on and who you can't – says prof. Siewierska. – I think that in the case of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the latter meaning will be used. That is: he will want to recognize how much he can count on this coalition – he adds.

The expert emphasizes that such conclusions were often submitted at important moments that shake the jobs of a given government. – In such situations, you need to reduce the accompanying tension and show: “Listen, we still have a ticket to govern.” Although of course there is always a risk that this tool can harm – notes the political scientist. – In other countries such stories ended differently. I assume that Prime Minister Tusk had no other choice, but he submits this application at a risky moment. We will see if this mandate to rule is still still and whether the prime minister can count on all members of the coalition – he states.

The announcement of Prime Minister Tusk commented, among others In Radio Krakow Dr Bogumił Półziński, specialist in constitutional law, professor at the University of National Education Commission in Krakow. Explaining the reasons for the prime minister's request for a vote of trust to the government, he also admitted: “First of all, it may be that it is showing the opposition, that we still have support in the Sejm. On the other hand, this is definitely such a means of consolidating these forces, those deputies, those deputies who supported the government. And the question: do they continue to support? This is also certainly a signal for public opinion, for citizens that: see, despite various problems, difficulties, we still have support from the Sejm and we have a legitimacy further to act. “