Election
Poland 2023 Parliamentary Elections
October 15, 2023
Poland's 15 October 2023 elections to the Sejm and Senate produced the highest turnout since 1989 (74.38%) and ended eight years of Law and Justice (PiS) government: three opposition groups won a combined majority and formed a coalition under Donald Tusk. OSCE/ODIHR found the election competitive and well administered on the day, but marked by a clear ruling-party advantage built on state resources and public-media partisanship. A referendum held alongside the vote, promoted by the outgoing government, failed to reach the 50% turnout quorum and was invalid.
Official results
A four-question referendum initiated by the outgoing government was held on the same day; opposition voters largely boycotted it, turnout reached only 40.91% — below the 50% quorum — and the referendum was invalid.
- Law and Justice (PiS)35.4%7,640,854
194 seats
- Civic Coalition (KO)30.7%6,629,402
157 seats
- Third Way (Trzecia Droga)14.4%3,110,670
65 seats
- The New Left (Nowa Lewica)8.6%1,859,018
26 seats
- Confederation (Konfederacja)7.2%1,547,364
18 seats
The Integrity Ledger
What the evidence establishes, and what it does not — side by side, each finding sourced and tiered.
What is established
- Process violationsCorroborated
OSCE/ODIHR found the campaign competitive but tilted: the ruling party benefited from the use of state resources and from partisan public media, and the government's same-day referendum blurred the line between state and party campaigning. Election day itself was calm and professionally administered.
Sources:1
What is not established
- Result falsificationDebunked
No credible evidence emerged that the count was falsified. PKW published results down to polling-station level, party agents and observers were present at counts, the outcome was accepted by all sides, and power transferred to the opposition — inconsistent with claims that the vote could be rigged.