POLAND: Poles vote in snap Parliamentary election that could end the rule of the Kazcynski twins

Poland votes in parliamentary election that could see the conservative twins lose their grip on power. Poles voted on Sunday (October 21) in a snap parliamentary election that could weaken the grip of the conservative Kaczynski twins and bring in a more EU-friendly government ready to speed up economic reforms. Opinion polls suggest the Civic Platform, a centre-right opposition party, will attract most support. However, no party looks set to win outright which would lead to negotiations over a coalition in the European Union's biggest ex-communist country. This election was called two years early after the last coalition collapsed over a corruption inquiry. The Platform has plans to rebuild relations with EU allies that have suffered under the nationalist brothers. It also aims to pull Polish troops out of the U.S.-led force in Iraq. Opinion polls have put the Platform between 4 and 17 points ahead of the ruling Law and Justice Party. They gave the opposition party up to 47 percent support. Turnout is seen as crucial and stood at 8.4 percent by 10.30 a.m. (0830 GMT), nearly a quarter more than in the last election in 2005. Low participation then -- just 40 percent -- is thought to have helped the Kaczynskis. Voting started on a bright and chilly morning. Exit polls are due once votingeverywhere at 8.20 p.m. (1820 GMT). The party of the 58-year-old Kaczynskis, Prime Minister Jaroslaw and President Lech, has run the country of 38 million people during two years of growing prosperity but constant political turbulence. The Kaczynskis have fought repeatedly with EU partners and strained relations with Germany and Russia. The opposition also accused the brothers of focusing on fighting corruption instead of reforming central Europe's biggest economy. Financial markets are betting on victory for the Platform. Expectations that it will win, and accelerate Poland's moves to adopt the euro, have lifted the zloty currency to its highest level for over five years. Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski voted in Warsaw and told reporters he hoped that voters wouldn't be fooled' by the opposition. "I hope that Poles will not let themselves be fooled. I know that Donald Tusk presented the clear face of the future creator of the miracle and was concerned by the fate of Polish families, especially those abroad," said Jaroslaw Kaczynski. Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk told reporters he was running to win. "If I did not expect to win, I would not have taken up this challenge and I would not hassle the people with my person. Of course I expect to win, but I also know perfectly well that it will not be easy and that the battle will go on until the last minute," said Tusk after voting, also in Warsaw. Polish voters had strong views about who they would vote for. "I voted for PiS [Law and Justice], because they are very good people. I don't see any better or more educated people in the other parties than the Kaczynskis," said Warsaw resident Krystyna Wyczesany. In Lowicz, a rural town some 60 kilometres west of Warsaw, many people were expected to vote for the ruling party. But, just as in most places in the country, many people have been disappointed with the two year long rule of the twins and are looking for a change. "Those ducks [nickname for the Kaczynski twins], they don't do anything at all. Right now we should give a chance to something new. Law and Justice during the last two years did not do anything. I hope the Civic Platform will do something," said Marek Kacperovski, a 54-year-old construction worker. The last government collapsed after infighting over a corruption investigation. The president does not face an election until 2010. Financial markets are betting on victory for the Civic Platform. Expectations that it will win, and accelerate Poland's moves to adopt the euro, have lifted the zloty currency to its highest level for over five years. Some 30 million Poles are eligible to vote. At stake are 460 seats in the lower house of parliament and 100 Senate seats. If opposition parties won three fifths of the lower house's seats they would be able to nullify the veto by the president, who does not face an election until 2010.

ITN Source | October 21, 2007

Tags:. .exit. .donald. .fooled. .ducks. .snap