President Duda: new parliament to convene on Nov. 13, two major candidates for PM

Poland's president said on Thursday (October 26) he would convene the first sitting of the newly elected parliament on Nov. 13 but did not announce whom he would task with forming a new government, after the ruling nationalists lost their absolute majority.

"Today we have two serious candidates for the position of prime minister, two political groups that claim to have a majority and have their own candidate for prime minister," Andrzej Duda said at a press conference, summing up his consultations with political party leaders.

The two candidates in question are Civic Coalition's Donald Tusk, and Law and Justice's Mateusz Morawiecki, the current prime minister.

"This is a new situation. There has never been a situation where one party won and the others claim that they will have the majority."

"This is how it looks today, ladies and gentlemen. We continue our work in this domain. I understand that the negotiations (to form governing coalitions) are continuing. I told all participants of the meetings that I am open to any proposal if anyone thinks that further meetings with me are needed. I am ready to meet," he added.

The Law and Justice (PiS) party came first in the Oct. 15 election but is unlikely to find a partner to form another coalition. Three pro-European parties say they are ready to form a cabinet led by liberal Civic Coalition leader Donald Tusk and urged President Andrzej Duda not to delay his appointment.

The president has 30 days from election day to convene the first session of the new parliament and then 14 days to nominate a candidate for prime minister.

Duda has previously said he would give the first shot at forming a government to the largest single party - PiS - and aides have said he will not be rushed into making a choice. He met this week with leaders of all the parties who won seats in the new parliament.