A wind of democratic change blew across Poland on Sunday, October 15, and it came as a surprise to most observers. According to the count of half the ballot papers, the outgoing majority of the conservative national party Law and Justice (PiS) would come out on top in the parliamentary elections with 36.6% of the vote. But, with 198 MPs, it would not be able to achieve the necessary majority of 231 seats in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament. The rout of the far-right libertarian Confederation (6.4% and 14 seats), a potential ally for the PiS, only reinforces this downfall.

On the democratic side, the Civic Coalition (KO), led by former prime minister and ex-president of the European Council Donald Tusk, won 31% of the vote and 161 seats. The Third Way, made up of the Polish People's Party and the Poland 2050 party led by journalist Szymon Holownia, won 13.5% and 57 seats. The leftwing Lewica won 8.6% of the vote and 30 seats. If confirmed by the counting of all ballots, these results would guarantee a comfortable majority of a total of 248 MPs for these three groups.

This election saw an absolute record turnout in democratic Poland, with 72.9% voting. This is more than in the elections of June 4, 1989, the first partially free elections after the fall of Communism, when 63% of Poles turned out at the polls. Throughout Sunday and well into the night, imposing queues formed in front of polling stations, both in Poland and abroad. Many polling stations had to remain open well past 9 pm, the scheduled closing time.

As for the controversial referendum organized by PiS in parallel with the ballot, which concerned migration issues in particular and was intended to mobilize the electorate in its favor, it ended in a resounding failure. With only 40% turnout, below the required 50% threshold, its results cannot be officially taken into account.

After 9 pm, the euphoria triggered by the results of exit polls swept through opposition headquarters. Tusk, who returned from Brussels two years ago to settle accounts with his long-time rival PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, received a standing ovation at his campaign headquarters. "I have never been so happy in my life with this supposed second place, Poland won, democracy won. We removed them from power," enthused the man tipped to be prime minister again. "It's the end of evil times, it's the end of the PiS rule, we made it! This day will be remembered in history as a bright day, the rebirth of Poland," Tusk added, referring to the constant attacks on the rule of law by Kaczynski's conservative party.

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