WARSAW – Poland’s Parliament voted in favour of Mr Donald Tusk becoming prime minister on Dec 11, putting an end to eight years of nationalist rule and setting the stage for a thawing of relations with the European Union.

Poland has seen tens of billions of euros of European Union funds frozen because of a dispute with Brussels over democratic standards, but Mr Tusk, a former European Council president, has vowed to mend relations and unblock the cash.

Two hundred and forty-eight were in favour of Mr Tusk becoming prime minister and 201 were against.

“He gave up the comfortable life he could have had after being president of the European Council and came back... to fight for the victory of democracy, decency and justice,” said Mr Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, leader of the Polish Peasants’ Party, which forms part of the coalition Mr Tusk leads.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party lost a vote of confidence.

Critics say PiS undermined judicial independence, turned state-owned media into a propaganda outlet and fomented prejudice against minorities such as immigrants and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

PiS says it defended Poland’s sovereignty and traditions from foreign interference during its time in power while improving living standards for millions of Poles by introducing social benefits and raising the minimum wage.

Mr Tusk will give a speech to Parliament on Tuesday laying out his government’s plans. REUTERS