Poland’s presidential elections are a “historic, groundbreaking” chance for Donald Tusk’s centrist party to show it was not trying to “deceive women” when it promised to change some of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws, campaigners have said.

On Monday, President Andrzej Duda swore in the new government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who will have two weeks to secure a vote of confidence. Most of the ministers have been swapped, although some previously served as deputy ministers.

For the first time in Poland's history, more women than men voted. Almost 75% of eligible women voted—a 12% increase over 2019. In comparison, 73% of eligible male voters cast a ballot.

A record 136 women were elected to sit in the Sejm – Poland’s more powerful lower house of parliament – at Sunday’s elections.

In the upcoming parliamentary elections in Poland, which are scheduled for 15 October, the women’s vote will play a particularly important role.

Out on the campaign trail before Poland’s parliamentary elections, Jolanta Banach, a leftwing candidate, has noticed a recurring pattern. “There’s a young couple out for a walk with a pushchair, and I approach them to offer our campaign leaflets.