For eight years, the rightwing Law and Justice party (PiS) has ruled Poland, transforming civil society. It has overseen an increased politicisation of the judiciary and media as well as a near total ban on abortion, all of which has put it at odds with its European Union allies. On Sunday night, its vote collapsed. Opposition parties outperformed expectation to deny PiS a majority and pave the way for a change of government. The Guardian’s Shaun Walker has been reporting on the campaign from Warsaw as opposition parties gained momentum. He tells Nosheen Iqbal that if the opposition is able to form a coalition government it is likely that the new prime minister will be Donald Tusk. As a former EU president, he will be a welcome figure in Brussels as the continent looks to Poland’s example in defeating populism.