Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a highly anticipated cabinet restructuring, outlining significant structural and personnel changes, along with a renewed set of political priorities, including the economy, competitiveness and security. The restructuring follows Poland’s recent Presidential elections, in which Karol Nawrocki, a national-conservative candidate supported by the main opposition Law and Justice party (PiS), defeated Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, the candidate of Tusk’s multi-party ruling bloc.

The reshuffle brings significant personnel changes to several ministries, including those responsible for health, justice, interior affairs and agriculture. One of the most significant structural changes is the creation of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, as well as a standalone Energy Ministry. In addition, several cabinet-level positions will be either dissolved or integrated into existing ministries. While the reshuffle is a step towards greater efficiency, Tusk stopped short of his earlier pledge to create “the smallest government in Europe” due to protracted talks with coalition partners. Nonetheless, Tusk has largely succeeded in reducing the government’s overall size.

Having consolidated the ruling coalition, the fourth Tusk Cabinet will take office on 24th July and is expected to place a greater focus on delivering on its 2023 electoral promises, including those connected to the economy, deregulation and the rule of law. While Tusk may not have achieved the full extent of his reshuffle goals and the restructuring has also strengthened the position of junior coalition partners, the changes demonstrate a pragmatic balancing act between asserting strategic direction and maintaining coalition stability.

Looking ahead, incoming President Karol Nawrocki, who will succeed Andrzej Duda on 6th August, is widely expected to follow in Duda’s footsteps by exercising his extensive veto rights against the politically contentious parts of the PM’s legislative agenda. While Nawrocki has pledged to be a constructive figure, it is yet to be seen how Poland’s new government and President will function and interact with each other.