POLAND’S PRESIDENTIAL election will be decided in a run-off on July 4th after a strong showing from Jaroslaw Kaczynski, brother of the late president, Lech Kaczynski.
Yesterday’s poll was won by Bronislaw Komorowski, candidate of the ruling Civic Platform (PO) centre-liberal government, with exit polls giving him about 46 per cent of the poll.
He fell short of majority support, however, and faces a second ballot against opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the national conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Two exit polls gave him 33 and 36 per cent.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have the support of the nation and to gain the trust of millions of Poles,” said Mr Komorowski to rousing cheers from supporters in Warsaw last night. Two months ago, the 58-year-old parliamentary speaker was thrust into the spotlight as acting head of state after President Kaczynski, his wife and dozens of dignitaries were killed in a plane crash in western Russia.
The PO candidate has promised voters to work constructively with his party allies in government on health and education reform and to enter the euro zone within five years. He vowed to end years of political deadlock in Warsaw that saw President Kaczynski veto legislation of the rival PO government on a regular basis.
In the next two weeks, Mr Komorowski’s main concern will be to get his voters back to the polls during the holiday season and to restore momentum to a campaign that had begun to flag compared to that of the resurgent Kaczynski.
“The most important thing is our belief that we can win. Victory is possible and it is also a must for us,” said Mr Kaczynski last night, as he was drowned out by cheers of “We will win!”
He added: “This is not an ordinary election because of the tragedy.” After a career as a combative national conservative, and a turbulent two years as prime minister, Mr Kaczynski presented himself in this campaign as a conciliatory figure.
Like Mr Komorowski, his campaign was light on detail but heavy on promises to end years of bitter political feuding in which he played a starring role.
Key to the final vote will be the 13 per cent support attracted by third-place candidate, Grzegorz Napieralski of the left-wing SLD party. Last night both candidates began wooing his voters and those of eight other unsuccessful candidates unlikely to be thrilled at the choice between two centre-right politicians.
“Komorowski will get most of that support but he should not take it for granted,” said Pawel Swieboda, director of Warsaw’s demosEuropa think tank. “After a lukewarm first round, I think things will turn ballistic in the next two weeks.”
