In the local elections that took place in Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European Union party lost to the conservative opposition, which ruled Poland for eight years until last December. According to the Ipsos voter poll, the opposition Law and Justice Party received 33.7 percent of the vote, while Tusk’s Civic coalition remained stuck at 31.9 percent.

The final results are expected during the day, but PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has already declared victory. He said the result was a message to those who had written off the party and quoted American writer Mark Twain: “The news of my death is somewhat premature.”

These elections represented the first test for Tusk’s coalition government since it came to power nearly four months ago. Poles can vote to choose mayors, municipal council members and representatives in regional parliaments.

Tusk’s boost was the re-election of an ally of his as mayor of Warsaw. Rafal Trzaskowski is sure of a new period. Tusk called Trzaskowski the hero of the evening. For mayoral candidates who do not receive at least 50% of the votes, a second round of voting will be held on April 21.

Tusk admitted that PiS voters appeared to be better mobilized in several areas. The Prime Minister said that some of his supporters may not have voted yesterday due to the good weather.