‘Emotional and proud’: Voters on Poland’s landmark election results

The rightwing PiS has no clear path to form a majority in a setback for populism. Photograph: Wojtek Radwański/AFP/Getty Images

‘Whoever I talk to, it’s relief and hope’

Wojciech Bałka, a 42-year-old IT worker in Kraków, has watched with concern in recent years as Poland moved away from democracy and towards autocracy. But after a landmark election on Sunday, that will probably see the ruling populist Law and Justice (PiS) party leave government after eight years, Bałka said he’s relieved. “Whoever I talk to, it’s relief and hope,” he said. “And some anxiety – because it’s not yet the change in government.”