The Revival of Pro-EU Leader Tusk in Poland Sparks Excitement

A livestream of Poland's parliament, known as the Sejm, has become incredibly popular, with hundreds of thousands of viewers tuning in for each session. The demand to follow key proceedings next week is so high that a major cinema in Warsaw, Kinoteka, is showing the entire event, offering politics with popcorn. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has until Monday to present his cabinet for a vote of confidence, but he is expected to fail to gain enough support. This will lead to the approval of a coalition government led by Donald Tusk. Poland's recent election had a record turnout of over 70%, with many motivated to vote by concerns about the country's democracy under the current right-wing PiS government. The EU is withholding over €30bn in Covid recovery funds due to concerns about the politicization of Poland's courts. Tusk and his coalition have promised to prioritize restoring the independence of the judiciary. The battle over the judiciary is also affecting Poland's ability to access EU funds, which will impact promises on teachers' salaries, social spending, healthcare, and other important issues. There are divisions over whether the judges appointed since the controversial reforms should remain in their positions. The Tusk coalition also plans to overhaul state media, which they describe as a "factory of lies and hatred." Under the PiS government, Poland's ranking for press freedom has declined. Radio 357, a station launched by staff who resigned or were sacked from public radio in protest against political interference, is a testament to these changes. Assuming Tusk's coalition starts work, they have a long list of promises to fulfill, including reforming abortion laws. Women's groups and voters are particularly interested in legalizing abortion up to 12 weeks and ending the harassment and prosecution of those who provide support for women seeking abortions. Despite the high engagement level, there are concerns that breaking these promises would lead to disengagement from the government. Kinoteka has already sold out all their free tickets for the screening of parliamentary proceedings on Monday, demonstrating the current level of interest in politics among the public.