Poles vote to choose new leader after plane crash
Monday, 21 June 2010
WARSAW, June 20 (AP): More than two months after Poland's president was killed in a plane crash, Poles are voting Sunday to choose his successor. Polls show that his surviving twin brother faces an uphill battle in defeating the favorite despite a recent surge in sympathy for him.
The outcome is expected to shape the European Union member's stance on issues such as the adoption of the euro, welfare reform and Poland's mission in Afghanistan.
Poland is the only European Union country to have avoided recession during the global economic downturn. The election will also determine how it fares amid the new debt crisis.
The front-runner, Bronislaw Komorowski, is a pro-EU, moderate member of the governing Civic Platform party. He has pledged to work closely with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to adopt the euro in about five years, end the unpopular military mission in Afghanistan and promote pro-market reforms.
Polling in second place is Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the identical twin brother of the late president, Lech Kaczynski. He is a social conservative whose main goals are to fight crime and corruption, scale back market reforms in order to preserve a strong welfare state and promote Roman Catholic values in public life. He is more skeptical about the European Union and adoption of the euro, saying it's too early to set a timetable for giving up the Polish currency, the zloty.
Kaczynski, a former prime minister, is known for his nationalism and his combative tone. But he has struck a more moderate tone since his brother's death. Many Poles are unsure of whether the change is permanent or a strategy to win over middle-of-the-road voters.
Opinions were split early Sunday among voters in southern Warsaw. Komorowski's supporters stressed his calm and ties to the government. Backers of Kaczynski called him trustworthy and said he truly cares for Poland's interests.
Jan Rostafinski said he voted for Komorowski, whom he knows in person.
The outcome is expected to shape the European Union member's stance on issues such as the adoption of the euro, welfare reform and Poland's mission in Afghanistan.
Poland is the only European Union country to have avoided recession during the global economic downturn. The election will also determine how it fares amid the new debt crisis.
The front-runner, Bronislaw Komorowski, is a pro-EU, moderate member of the governing Civic Platform party. He has pledged to work closely with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to adopt the euro in about five years, end the unpopular military mission in Afghanistan and promote pro-market reforms.
Polling in second place is Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the identical twin brother of the late president, Lech Kaczynski. He is a social conservative whose main goals are to fight crime and corruption, scale back market reforms in order to preserve a strong welfare state and promote Roman Catholic values in public life. He is more skeptical about the European Union and adoption of the euro, saying it's too early to set a timetable for giving up the Polish currency, the zloty.
Kaczynski, a former prime minister, is known for his nationalism and his combative tone. But he has struck a more moderate tone since his brother's death. Many Poles are unsure of whether the change is permanent or a strategy to win over middle-of-the-road voters.
Opinions were split early Sunday among voters in southern Warsaw. Komorowski's supporters stressed his calm and ties to the government. Backers of Kaczynski called him trustworthy and said he truly cares for Poland's interests.
Jan Rostafinski said he voted for Komorowski, whom he knows in person.