Polish Elections: Komorowski Leads, Kaczynski Twin Stays In Race …
- June 21st, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
In elections to replace President Lech Kaczynski, killed in a plane crash (10.4.10), the centre-right front-runner Bronislaw Komorowski (picture) looks to have fallen short of a majority – forcing a run-off against the late President’s brother.
Komorowski campaigned on a plan to reduce government spending, in response to public indebtedness, in step with similar ideas that have seen conservatives being elected elsewhere, most recently in Slovakia (12.6.10).
RUN-OFF LIKELY
Exit polls have agreed that in Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski, from the current government party, Civic Platform, (and in favour of integration into the European Union), has polled around 43.5%, meaning he will be forced to the run-off in a fortnight (4.7.10).
That will be against Jaroslaw Kaczynski, in second place with one-third of the vote, who had a term as Prime Minister in tandem with his identical twin brother, heading the Law and Justice Party.Over sixteen months, 2006-7, they made splash on the European scene, with a loosely Christian Democratic line on government spending for social good, yet also nationalistic rhetoric and conservative reactions on social issues, like the rights of homosexuals. (See also EUAustralia, “Polish President’s death …â€, 10.4.10).Among ten candidates in all, on Sunday, the former communist grouping, represented by Grzegorz Napieralski, was third with some 14% of the vote.
CHANGE IN SLOVAKIA
European voters like those in other parts of the world have been responding to the uncertainties of the economic times, fairly consistently either rejecting incumbents, or falling in with conservative demands for austerity – the cutting of budgets come what down-turns may follow.
Elections in Slovakia (12.6.10) saw a swing against the Social Democratic government under Prime Minister Robert Fico (picture). (See also EUAustralia, “Peace bid in Slovakia’s media tussle†30.4.09; “Worry over media freedom …†21.1.09).
He emerged on the night with a plurality, the main party with 68 of 150 seats, but the Christian Democrats (28 seats) and right-of-centre liberals (22) were claiming the numbers to make up a new coalition government with minor parties – and to commence work on chopping back spending.
Reference
Election date 12.6.10Â Â Poland heads for election run-off. Jan Cienski in Warsaw. http://www.ft.com/cms/s 0/3facca20-7ca3-11df-8b74-00144feabdc0.html
Leos Rousek (Dow Jones news), “Slovak Election Outcome Follows Europe’s Rightward Driftâ€, NASDAQ, 18.6.10.
Michael Johnston, “Poland ETFs In Focus Ahead Of Crucial Electionâ€, 18.6.10, EFT db, Chicago. http://etfdb.com/2010/poland-etfs-in-focus-ahead-of-crucial-election/, (20.6.10).
Radio Free Europe, “Slovak Centre-Right Opposition Wins Electionâ€, 13.6.10.
ttp://www.rferl.org/content/Slovak_CenterRight_Opposition_Wins_Election/2069909.html, (20.6.10).
Wikipedia, SF, “Elections in Slovakiaâ€. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Slovakia, (20.6.10).
Pictures  TF1