Donald Tusk, leader of the pro-European opposition in Poland, claims victory for the centrist coalition in the legislative elections.
According to exit polls, the pro-European opposition has won the parliamentary majority, defeating the populists of the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the far-right.
The three centrist opposition parties together won 248 seats in the parliament of 460 deputies, compared to 212 seats for the PiS and the far-right combined.
Donald Tusk declares that Poland has won and that the PiS reign is over.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the PiS, announces that his party will have 200 parliamentary seats, but without a majority to form a government.
To form a coalition government, the opposition parties must agree, but they have already declared their willingness.
Donald Tusk promises to restore relations with the European Union and unlock the European funds frozen by Brussels.
He also promises to liberalize the right to abortion, in disagreement with the PiS government.
Analysts believe that there is a chance for an opposition government to emerge and for Poland to return to the decision-making center of the European Union.
However, any government coalition formed by the opposition could face conflicts with President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS.
The voter turnout in the elections was high, reaching an absolute record since the fall of communism in 1989.
