Posted on 09/21/2005 11:36:05 PM PDT by twinself
The political descendants of the Solidarity trade union, which set into motion the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the end of the Cold War, are poised to return to power in Poland for the first time in a decade in the political wilderness. Parliamentary elections will be held Sunday, with a presidential vote to follow two weeks later. The parliamentary ballot is expected to mark the end of the Democratic Left Alliance's and close out the career of Kwasniewski. The left-wing leadership likely will be replaced by a pro-market government, as two conservative parties are far ahead of the rest of the field. With 42 percent backing in the most recent poll, the dominant Civic Platform (PO) party could gain enough seats under Poland's electoral system to win a clear majority. The party is expected to form a coalition with the Law and Justice (PiS), which won 24 percent in the poll. Civic Platform has proposed ambitious economic reforms, and voters seem ready to get on board. The party's leaders say they will maintain, if not strengthen, relations with the United States and the European Union. The reform Platform calls for revamping the constitution and a wholesale restructuring of the government bureaucracy. Such dramatic changes require a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, the Sejm. Lukasz Pawlowski, the head of Civic Platform's public relations office, said a broad conservative coalition is critical. "We need the serious support of the PiS," he said. "Let's get rid of the Senate; we don't need it. Let's cut the Sejm in half, from 460 to 230 seats." The conservative coalition also has proposed a 15 percent flat-rate tax. Polls also show the Civic Platform presidential candidate Donald Tusk with a commanding lead over leftist rival Lech Kaczynski.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
ping
Tusk. And libertarian UPR in coming parliamentary elections this Sunday. They have only a slight chance of getting into the parliament but I expect Civic Platform's win to be overwhelming so they don't need my voice actually.
This second poll is a lil outdated. Lefty Cimoszewicz already left the race. And for the future reference - please note that Gazeta Wyborcza is as objective as NYT ;o
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