Politics Ledger · Europe
Poland
Liberal democracySemi-presidential republicUnitary
LightDark
In charge
Donald Tusk
Prime Minister
Time in power
2.9 yrs
since 2023
Government seats
52%
majority
Next national vote
2027-10
Parliamentary
Governance score
72/100
composite of five indices
Poland's history of partitions, occupation and Soviet domination makes sovereignty and Western security central. Since Solidarity's 1989 victory it has become a major EU economy, but is split between liberal and national-conservative visions.
Leadership
Who Governs Poland
Head of state
Karol Nawrocki
President · Independent (PiS-backed)
Since 6 August 2025 · 1.2 years
Age 43 (born 1983)ManRoute to power: won a popular election
Head of government
Holds executive powerDonald Tusk
Prime Minister · Civic Coalition
Since 13 December 2023 · 2.9 years
Age 69 (born 1957)ManRoute to power: elected by parliament
Ruling coalition
Civic Coalition, PSL, Poland 2050 and the Left
Main opposition
Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation
Last national election
1 June 2025
Presidential runoff
Nawrocki narrowly defeated Rafał Trzaskowski, creating "cohabitation" with Tusk's government.
Next national election
By October 2027
Parliamentary
The president's veto (needing 3/5 to override) has blocked much of the government's rule-of-law programme.
Parliament
Sejm
Seat distribution (Approximate club sizes, 2026), ordered from economic left to right.
| Party | Ideology | Seats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law and Justice (PiS) | National conservatism | 189 | opposition |
| Civic Coalition (KO) | Liberal conservatism, Pro-Europeanism | 157 | governing |
| Polish People's Party (PSL) | Agrarianism, Christian democracy | 32 | coalition |
| Poland 2050 (PL2050) | Centrism | 31 | coalition |
| The Left (Lewica) | Social democracy | 21 | coalition |
| Confederation (KWiN) | Right-wing libertarian nationalism | 16 | opposition |
| Others (Razem, Korona, independents) (OTH) | Various | 14 | opposition |
Ideology
Party Landscape
Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.
Institutions
The System
- Official name
- Republic of Poland
- Capital
- Warsaw
- Population
- 37 million
- Statehood
- Kingdom 966/1025; restored 1918; Third Republic 1989; Constitution 1997
- System
- Semi-presidential republic
- Structure
- Unitary
- Current constitution
- 1997
- Legislature
- National Assembly
- Lower / sole chamber
- Sejm (460 seats)
- Upper chamber
- Senate (100)
- Electoral system
- Open-list proportional (D'Hondt) with 5% threshold (8% for coalitions).
- Term limits
- President: two five-year terms.
Sources
- Sejm RP
- PKW
- EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)
Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.
Data as of 2026-10-29.