- 10 years, exactly 10 years we waited for this first place on the podium. Listen, I am so happy. We have the right to joy and emotion. I won't hide that I'm swallowing tears inside, I have to be strong, but I am very moved, and what moves me most is that despite difficult times, that perhaps our voters, Polish women and men, would want more, faster, you know, we are a country of ambitious people who want everything immediately and sometimes they look at us and say: well, improve yourselves, be better, but today I have a feeling of great personal and our shared satisfaction that we did not waste these difficult years and beautiful months after October 15th - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the election night.

11.66% - this is the turnout in the European elections, according to data as of 12:00.

The voivodeships with the highest turnout are małopolskie - 12.80%, mazowieckie - 12.66%, and łódzkie - 12.39%. The lowest are opolskie - 9.87%, świętokrzyskie - 10.29%, and wielkopolskie - 10.57%.

For comparison, the turnout in the last local government elections, in the first round at 12:00, was 16.52%.

Last year, during the parliamentary elections - 22.59%.

In turn, in 2019, during the previous European elections - 14.39%.

28.2% - this was the turnout in the European elections, according to data as of 5 PM.

The highest turnout was recorded in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship - 31.65%, Małopolskie Voivodeship - 29.87%, and Pomorskie Voivodeship - 29.56%. The lowest turnout was in Opolskie Voivodeship - 23.6%, Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship - 24.75%, and Lubuskie Voivodeship - 25.64%.

For comparison - the turnout in the last local government elections, in the first round at 5 PM, was 39.43%.

Last year, during the parliamentary elections - 57.54%.

In turn, in 2019, during the previous European elections - 32.51%.

These are the results of the exit poll conducted on behalf of Polsat, TVN, and TVP.

Civic Coalition - 38.2% (21 seats)

Law and Justice - 33.9% (19 seats)

Confederation - 11.9% (6 seats)

Third Way - 8.2% (4 seats)

The Left - 6.6% (3 seats)

- We have qualified, competent, honest MEPs. Europe will see Poland through the face of our candidates – an honest, decent, democratic Poland, not those who sought to evade justice and find refuge there. This is very important – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the election night.

- Those ruling France have no reason for satisfaction. Those ruling France have reasons for a rather dramatic outcome. Out of these great, ambitious states, out of the EU leaders, Poland has shown that democracy, honesty, and Europe triumph here. Thanks to you, thanks to all these votes. I am so moved – stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the election night.

- We cannot stop in this march for good causes. And I promise you, all of Poland, all Polish women and men: we will not stop. We will move forward with these standards, both white-and-red and European, but above all with this conviction in our hearts and minds that it is worth fighting for a good, decent, ambitious Poland every day, every month - stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the election night.

- We wanted to congratulate all Poles on the elections, which will determine the future of Poland and Europe, especially after this news. These are very important elections that will have immense significance not only for our generation but likely for many future generations. As The Left, we want to congratulate the winners, Civic Coalition, on their results, because it is a very good outcome. However, the combined result with Third Way and The Left once again confirms the victory of democratic forces in Poland. This is very good news that will once again flow from Poland to Europe - stated Robert Biedroń during The Left's election night.

- We must certainly ensure that what we promised before the parliamentary elections, meaning that full settlement, a settlement to the bone of all crimes, wrongdoings, political errors, and scandals, is carried out as quickly as possible. There is no time for any doubts or for pondering whether it's now or later. The coalition roller must keep rolling. If we hear from some of our coalition partners that they are hesitating on certain matters, then it is clearly evident that the electoral verdict shows this is not the best idea; one should not hesitate - stated Jan Grabiec on Polsat News.

The coming days in politics promise not only the official results of the European elections but also a meeting of the National Security Council, this time held on location in Białystok, and a government session addressing the Eastern Shield initiative, budget guidelines for next year, and minimum wage proposals.

This week, the Sejm will also convene – for the first time since the elections – to discuss the President's draft bill on state authorities' actions in the event of external state security threats, and potentially, the Senate's amendments to the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) act.

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Government to Discuss Eastern Shield, Budget, and Minimum Wage. At its Monday session, the government will consider a draft resolution on the "National Deterrence and Defense Program - Eastern Shield" and a draft resolution concerning the situation on Poland's eastern border. Ministers will also review the guidelines for the state budget for 2025, as well as proposals for the minimum wage and minimum hourly rate for 2025.

National Security Council Meeting. On Monday, a meeting of the National Security Council, convened by President Andrzej Duda, will take place. In light of the crisis on the state border with Belarus, the Council's meeting will be held on location in Białystok.

Hołownia Attends Summit of Parliament Speakers. On Monday and Tuesday, Białystok will host a summit of the speakers of the parliaments of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, with the participation of the Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, the Speaker of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, Lauri Hussar, the Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, Daiga Mieriņa, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Hearings Before Investigative Committee. On Monday, the Pegasus investigative committee will hear testimony from Mikołaj Pawlak, former Director of the Department of Family and Juvenile Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, and Piotr Patkowski, former Chief Public Finance Disciplinary Advocate.

Committee on Abortion Law. On Tuesday, during a session of the extraordinary committee reviewing bills concerning the right to abortion, a discussion will be held on the parliamentary bill amending the Penal Code – effectively a proposal from the Lewica club.

Duda Attends Meeting of Bucharest Nine Presidents. On Tuesday, President Andrzej Duda will participate in a meeting of the presidents of the Bucharest Nine countries, to be held in Riga, Latvia. The Head of State plans to hold meetings with, among others, the NATO Secretary General, as well as the presidents of Latvia and Romania.

Sejm to Discuss Duda's Draft Bill. At the session commencing on Wednesday, the Sejm will address, among other items, the President's draft bill on state authorities' actions in the event of external state security threats. Also on the agenda is a bill concerning trading Sundays, initiated by Ryszard Petru. Deputies may also consider the Senate's amendments to the KRS act.

Duda Attends Ukraine Peace Summit. On Saturday and Sunday, President Andrzej Duda will visit Switzerland, where he will participate in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine.

Photo: KO