The leaders of the Polish opposition parties have signed a coalition agreement aimed at restoring the nation's legal order and strengthening its international position and security in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The parties, which collectively won the most votes in last month's election, have vowed to cooperate to restore democracy after eight years of rule by the Law and Justice party.

The coalition's candidate to be the next prime minister is Donald Tusk, a former prime minister and leader of the centrist Civic Coalition. The agreement acknowledges the "unprecedented threat to our security caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine" and pledges to strengthen Poland's international position, including in the European Union and NATO. It also emphasizes the need for a clear and calculable foreign policy that is friendly to allies and deterrent to enemies. Law and Justice, the current governing party, won the most votes in the election but fell short of a majority.

Despite this, President Andrzej Duda has given Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Law and Justice the first chance to try to form a government. However, commentators believe this attempt is unlikely to succeed, and many see it as a gesture of loyalty to his party. The coalition represents a broad alliance of parties with sometimes conflicting views. One area of disagreement is abortion, a divisive issue in a traditionally Catholic country. The coalition includes the centrist Civic Coalition, the agrarian Polish People's Party, the new party Poland 2050, and the left-wing New Left, which emphasizes support for women's and LGBTQ rights and combating climate change. The parties who signed the coalition agreement have a comfortable majority in parliament, with 248 seats out of 460.

Law and Justice has no potential coalition partner, even from the far-right Confederation party. While Law and Justice has sought to disparage the coalition agreement, the opposition parties are optimistic about their potential. They emphasize their commitment to restoring democracy and improving the situation of women in Poland. The coalition sees this agreement as an important signal to Europe and the world that Poland is returning to the values of democracy and human rights. The newly elected legislature, consisting of the lower house (the Sejm) and the upper house (the Senate), will convene for the first time on Monday.

According to the constitution, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has two weeks to present a Cabinet to the president and then two more weeks to present it to the Sejm, deliver a policy speech, and face a confidence vote. If he fails, as expected, the Sejm will have the opportunity to present Donald Tusk as its candidate to form the government. President Andrzej Duda has indicated his endorsement of Tusk.