A year after the change of the party in power and the formation of the government by Donald Tusk, we asked Poles what goals should be a priority for the current cabinet. We enquired about each issue separately, asking people to determine their importance on a seven-point scale, where 1 meant that the issue was completely unimportant, and 7 that it was a priority. Based on the answers, the priorities include primarily improving access to medical services and improving state security, i.e. strengthening defence. Both of these issues were considered important by similar percentages of respondents (90% and 91% respectively), but it was the improvement of the functioning of the health care system that was most clearly indicated as a priority: 65% of respondents selected the value 7 on the scale, while the average on a 1-7 scale was 6.37. Improving security was indicated as a priority by 60%, and the mean was 6.22. The importance of both of these issues is not particularly controversial, as evidenced by the lower standard deviation value than in the case of other issues. Both of the above-mentioned matters were also seen as the most important in the previous study, in July 2024, but then the emphasis was slightly stronger on the need to strengthen the state security.

What should be the primary focus of Donald Tusk's government?

The next two issues in terms of perceived importance are the fight against inflation (86% of respondents considered it important, including 56% as a priority, the mean value was 6.05) and strengthening Poland's position in Europe and in the world (88% of respondents considered it important, including 51% as a priority, the mean value was 6.00). Important, though not primary, issues include: limiting illegal immigration to Poland (78% considered it important, including 50% identified it as a priority; mean value 5.58); protection of the interests of Polish farmers (this is an important issue for 80% of respondents in total, a priority for 47%, mean value 5.72); improving the operation of the courts and prosecutor (81% identified it as important, including 43% as a priority, mean value 5.68), improving the situation of entrepreneurs (76% of respondents considered it important, including 38% as a priority, mean 5.58); improving the availability of housing (70% of respondents considered it important, including 38% as a priority, mean 5.34).

What should be the primary focus of Donald Tusk's government?

The three remaining issues included in the study, i.e. energy transformation, holding the previous government accountable, and easing the abortion law, are much more controversial. Among them, combating climate change and moving away from coal in the energy sector are considered the least important – almost as many people believe that this should be an important goal of the government's actions (44%) as think that it is unimportant (43%). It is worth noting that over the last six months, the perceived importance of the energy transformation has significantly decreased – the percentage of respondents for whom it is an important issue has decreased by 6 points in total, while the share of respondents for whom it is unimportant has increased by 7 points, while the mean on the scale has decreased from 4.21 to 3.91. Similar changes have occurred in the approach to holding the Law and Justice (PiS) government accountable. This matter is currently important for 50% of respondents (3 points less than in July 2024), and it is not important for 40% (an increase of 4 points). At the same time, the mean has dropped from 4.60 to 4.27. The relaxation of the abortion law is considered important by 57% of respondents. This issue is not important for almost one-third (31%).