PiS Upsets the Odds in Siedlce, While Tusk’s Coalition Strengthens Its Urban Hold in Poland

Siedlce, a city of about 77,000 inhabitants located 100 kilometers east of Warsaw, began the day with gray skies. Despite being close to the liberal capital, the city seemed like PiS’s only chance to achieve a medium-sized city. On election night, the ultra-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party managed to win back this former bastion and also secured a victory in Jastrzebie-Zdrój, another town in the south of the country.

However, overall, the center-right party of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, known as Civic Coalition (KO), consolidated its power in the municipal elections. Tusk celebrated victories in major cities like Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, Wrocław, and Rzeszów. The KO candidates or independents supported by the party emerged victorious in these cities, demonstrating the party’s strength in urban areas.

The final duel in Siedlce was between Andrzej Sitnik, an independent supported by KO, and Tomasz Hapunowicz, the PiS candidate. Despite lower voter turnout compared to previous elections, Hapunowicz ultimately won the election. Voters in the town mainly focused on the honesty and understanding of people’s issues rather than political affiliation. The results in Siedlce and other cities reflected ongoing political dynamics in Poland where PiS faces challenges in urban areas but continues to have a strong base of support.

Looking ahead to June’s European elections