More Power for the Prime Minister or the President? Poles Speak Out

More than half of Poles believe the president should have greater executive power, according to a poll conducted by the Pollster Research Institute. Meanwhile, 38% of respondents believe the prime minister should have greater powers. "Poles elect their president to exercise the prerogatives enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. And also to be their voice," Karol Nawrocki told "Gość Wydarzeń."

The Pollster Research Institute, commissioned by "Super Express", asked Poles who, in their opinion, should have greater executive power: the prime minister or the president?

More than half of respondents (52%) indicated that the president should have more power in Poland . 38% indicated the prime minister.

10% of respondents had no opinion on this matter.

Strategic communications expert Dr. Sergiusz Trzeciak , quoted by "SE", explained that "if there is a government that is not very popular, and the president is on a roll because he was recently sworn in, there is always fresh confidence in the new president."

"Perhaps we're at the right time to start discussing constitutional changes and decide whether we want a chancellor-led system , as in Germany, or a presidential system. Perhaps this could also be a starting point for a referendum on the subject. But we shouldn't be introducing systemic changes with a specific individual in mind, but rather have a clear goal: an efficient government, an efficient parliament, and an efficient executive branch," Trzeciak said.

The study was conducted by the Pollster Research Institute on August 9-11, 2025, using the CAWI method on a sample of 1,006 adult Poles. The sample structure was representative of Polish citizens aged 18+. The maximum estimation error was approximately 3%.

On Tuesday , in the "Gość Wydarzeń" program, President Karol Nawrocki was asked about what his cooperation with the government would look like.

The president said that he envisions relations with the prime minister in a "balanced manner."

"That means in those places where Prime Minister (Donald) Tusk, in my opinion and in the opinion of the voters who elected me, over 10.5 million, do not serve the Polish cause well, I intend to react clearly. However, in those matters that arise from cooperation between the Polish government and the president, we will, I hope, cooperate. This is natural," he said.

According to Nawrocki, the president and the prime minister do not have to "like each other or spend an unusually long time together to be able to cooperate in a normal way, with good fruit, with good results for Poland, on issues that are important to Poland."

Nawrocki also referred to the words of Donald Tusk , who announced that "wherever he wants to interfere, he will see what the constitutional rule is, that is, who governs the country."

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"Real politics means that Poles elect their president, who currently has the most recent mandate and enjoys the greatest direct support from Polish voters, also to tell Prime Minister Donald Tusk what he hasn't done in a year and a half, but what he promised. Poles elect their president to fulfill the prerogatives enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. And also to be their voice," he noted.

- If Prime Minister Donald Tusk knows the Constitution of the Republic of Poland well and respects Polish democracy and the choice of over 10 million Poles, then this cooperation should be based on the principles set out in the will of the Poles and the will of the Constitution - he stated.