POLAND:Polish prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has hit out at the jubilant reaction across Europe to his election defeat last weekend.
"If happiness erupts in [ Berlin] then it is worrisome to say the least," said an embittered Mr Kaczynski at a press conference in Warsaw yesterday as coalition talks began between election winner Donald Tusk, leader of the liberal Civic Platform, and Poland's Peasant Party.
Mr Kaczynski's personal suspicions of Germany's intentions towards Poland became a trademark of his short-lived administration.
Relations with Moscow deteriorated even further: Warsaw responded to a Russian ban on Polish food imports by vetoing EU talks with Russia on new economic co-operation.
"When it comes to Moscow," said Mr Kaczynski. "I would also not be so happy about Moscow's happiness if I were Mr Tusk."
Governments across the continent barely concealed their glee in diplomatic remarks congratulating Mr Tusk on his victory.
He responded in kind, promising a more conciliatory tone in Poland's international relations rather than the diplomatic trench warfare of the last two years.
"I will not treat foreign relations as a battlefield," said Mr Tusk, who speaks German and had a "long conversation" on the phone with German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday.
"Good personal relations with foreign leaders are a trump card, not a liability."
The outgoing Polish leader, who will stay in office until November 5th, has proven to be a bad loser, blaming everything from "dark forces" and a "biased" Polish media for his election defeat.
Mr Kaczynski attacked Polish state television TVP in particular for its campaign: "Get out and vote - Change Poland" - apparently intended to reverse low turnout in the last election. In it, Mr Kaczynski saw a plot to overthrow his government.
Election observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) rejected Mr Kaczynski's claim, saying that the elections were "democratic and pluralistic founded on a high level of public confidence".
However, the OSCE agreed that TVP treated candidates differently - in its opinion to the detriment of the opposition and Mr Tusk's Civic Platform in particular.