"Poland's Opposition Triumphs in Election, EU Prepares to Embrace Reconciliation"
Poland's centrist opposition party, Civic Coalition, led by former European Council chief Donald Tusk, is expected to win the country's election, signaling a potential shift in Poland's relationship with the European Union (EU). The EU has been concerned about Poland's democratic norms and EU-hostile stance, leading to the withholding of funds. However, the expected outcome of the election has brought relief to Brussels, as it bucks the trend of the rise of Eurosceptic hard-right parties across the bloc. The Civic Coalition aims to return Poland to the European mainstream, but the conservative Law and Justice party is expected to retain a significant number of parliamentary seats. Despite this, the EU hopes that tensions with Poland will dissipate, considering Warsaw a core member of the European family. Additionally, Poland's strong stance against Russia is valued by NATO, and the country's commitment to supporting Ukraine is expected to continue regardless of the election outcome.