New Polish government gains vote of confidence

In total, 243 deputies voiced confidence in Morawiecki’s government while 192 voted against it.

The vote followed a lengthy debate in the lower house after Morawiecki outlined his government's priorities in a policy speech on Tuesday afternoon.

Morawiecki told MPs that his new conservative government would focus both on economic development and on helping poorer citizens.

President Andrzej Duda on Friday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Beata Szydło and her Cabinet.

He then named Finance and Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as prime minister-designate, tasking him with forming a new government.

Szydło offered to resign on Thursday evening, halfway through her conservative Law and Justice government’s term in office.

Law and Justice (PiS) politicians have said that the change of prime minister reflects the government’s determination to focus on the economy over the next two years.

All government ministers kept their jobs as Poland’s new Cabinet led by Morawiecki was sworn into office on Monday afternoon.

Morawiecki and his ministers took their oaths before Duda in a ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw.

In addition to serving as prime minister, Morawiecki has retained his brief as finance and development minister.

(pk/gs)