Sunday, October 21, 2007
Poland's pro-business opposition thrashed the conservative Kaczynski twins' Law and Justice party in a snap parliamentary election Sunday with a record turnout, exit polls indicated.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
By Reuters
WARSAW, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Poland's conservative Kaczynski
twins lost a parliamentary election on Sunday to a centre-right
opposition party ready to speed economic reforms and mend
relations with EU allies, exit polls showed.
The Civic Platform's victory over the ruling Law and Justice
party appeared to be a rejection of two years of turbulent rule
by the nationalist twins in the European Union's biggest former
communist country.
party appeared to be a rejection of two years of turbulent rule
by the nationalist twins in the European Union's biggest former
communist country.
Exit polls showed the Civic Platform won around 44 percent
of the vote. Law and Justice had just over 30 percent.
of the vote. Law and Justice had just over 30 percent.
Turnout, at more than 55 percent, was the highest since
Poles voted to end communism in 1989.
Poles voted to end communism in 1989.
"For many weeks we have been convincing Poles that life in
Poland can be better, that Poles deserve a better government,"
Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk said after the exit polls.
Poland can be better, that Poles deserve a better government,"
Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk said after the exit polls.
"We are moved that Poles went to cast their ballots," said
Tusk, expected to be Poland's next prime minister.
Tusk, expected to be Poland's next prime minister.
The election was called two years early after Prime Minister
Jaroslaw Kaczynski's last coalition collapsed amid acrimony over
a corruption investigation.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski's last coalition collapsed amid acrimony over
a corruption investigation.
President Lech Kaczynski does not face an election until
2010, but the exit polls indicated that opposition parties might
together have the three-fifths of seats in parliament's lower
house to trump his veto power over legislation.
2010, but the exit polls indicated that opposition parties might
together have the three-fifths of seats in parliament's lower
house to trump his veto power over legislation.
The Civic Platform appeared to be a few seats short of being
able to govern alone, but should be able to form a coalition
easily.
able to govern alone, but should be able to form a coalition
easily.
The Platform is favoured by financial markets, which expect
reforms such as tax cuts and privatisation that would also help
the country of 38 million towards adopting the euro currency.
reforms such as tax cuts and privatisation that would also help
the country of 38 million towards adopting the euro currency.
The Platform has said it would seek to pull Polish troops
out of the U.S.-led force in Iraq, but does not oppose
Washington's plan to put installations for its controversial
missile shield in Poland.
out of the U.S.-led force in Iraq, but does not oppose
Washington's plan to put installations for its controversial
missile shield in Poland.
The Kaczynskis had put the fight against post-communist
corruption at the heart of their campaign.
corruption at the heart of their campaign.
Their power base is in rural areas that feel left out by the
changes since the fall of communism as well as among older and
more religious Poles. The opposition draws greater strength from
the booming cities and among youths.
changes since the fall of communism as well as among older and
more religious Poles. The opposition draws greater strength from
the booming cities and among youths.
Full results are expected on Tuesday. Exit polls tend to be
a fair reflection of the eventual result.
a fair reflection of the eventual result.
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