Posted on 10/08/2005 9:55:45 AM PDT by lizol
Poland race seen as ending communist era
VANESSA GERA
Associated Press
WARSAW, Poland - Sixteen years since the fall of communism, Poles vote Sunday for a new president in an election where no former communist has a chance at victory.
The two leading contenders, Donald Tusk and Lech Kaczynski, both sprang from the Solidarity movement in the 1980s and have campaigned on promises to cleanse the state of corruption and the influence of former communists.
But they hold opposing views on how far the state should go in guiding the economy at a time when the country is trying to adjust to being a new European Union member without the help of its leading moral compass: the late Polish-born pope, John Paul II.
Sunday's vote seems guaranteed to continue a trend that began with the ouster of the communists in the Sept. 25 parliamentary elections.
Kaczynski's socially conservative Law and Justice party took the most votes, with Tusk's Civic Platform just behind. The parties are now in negotiations to form a coalition.
The former communists who swept to power four years ago, the Democratic Left Alliance, self-destructed in a string of scandals. The party's only major presidential contender, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, dropped out of the race amid allegations he lied about his holdings in a state-run oil company.
Presidential front-runner Tusk's party favors pro-business, free-market policies such as low taxes and deregulation.
Kaczynski's Law and Justice party sees a stronger role for the state in guiding the economy and providing a safety net to its citizens; it wants Roman Catholic values reflected in legislation. That stance has led some in the powerful Catholic church to endorse him.
Tusk has been polling about four to 10 percentage points ahead of Kaczynski in most recent polls. But it seems unlikely he will win the 50 percent he needs to avoid a runoff - and that keeps Kaczynski's hopes alive.
Three weeks ago, Kaczynski trailed Tusk by some 20 points in the polls. But his support has climbed since his party won the parliamentary elections.
As leader of the winning party, his identical twin brother, Jaroslaw, was entitled to the top government post, but stepped aside to boost his brother's chances in presidential balloting. The ploy may have worked: Kaczynski has cut Tusk's lead in recent polls.
A runoff would give Kaczynski two weeks to pick up support from supporters of fringe parties and leftists, who may be more inclined to support his views of a stronger state role. Polls, however, still show Tusk with a strong lead over Kaczynski in a head-to-head battle.
"For the first time ever, we Poles have to ask ourselves what kind of Poland we want, whether we want economic liberalism or a stress on keeping the welfare state," said Artur Choldzynski, a 36-year-old architect. "That's the question, and I'm still not sure within myself what the answer is."
The winner will replace Aleksander Kwasniewski, a popular former communist whose second five-year term is coming to a close. Like Kwasniewski, who was sports minister in the last communist government, other ex-communists held important positions after the peaceful end of that system in 1989-1990.
"What I like about both Tusk and Kaczynski is that they want to get the former communist agents out of the army and intelligence services," said Aleksandra Plewka, a 22-year-old political science student during a break from classes at Warsaw University.
Plewka said she would vote for Tusk because she thinks he would cut a more dignified image representing Poland abroad.
Tusk is a youthful-looking 48-year-old with a mild, diplomatic style, while Kaczynski, 56, is a combative and patriotic populist.
Kaczynski has spared no harsh words for Germany and Russia, a stance that has won him respect from Poles still bitter over the German and Soviet invasions of Poland during World War II, and Moscow's control of Poland during the Cold War.
Good, but are either of them from Kwaazneski's side of the aisle?
Tusk really sucked during the debates, his advisers chose fatal tactic. At least it is my opinion, he was so stupidly aggressive. Anyway this campaign became very populist.
A commie, but staunch US ally...theres a new one.
Yeah, that may be considered as a paradox.
I visit Poland often and enjoy the commentary here by Polish Free Republic members. I speak Polish badly but read it a little better. Isn't that kogel mogel instead of kogiel mogiel, or am I wrong? (I'm often wrong in Polish.
you can use both ways
It is said cause Korwin used to be a true conservative voice, especially on matters of economic policy. Now he reduced himself to a sorry clown. < /p>
He didn’t praised Luka. As much as I disagree with his attitude towards Belarus, he has some rights. Indeed Luka want to keep his post as long as it is possible and he will be unwilling to reintegrate with Russia. But such status quo is not good for Poland either. Korwin point was that Belarusians themselves will want to join Russia, that they will organize referendum. But wait a second, who said that such referendum will be organized at all? Opposition candidate is pro-western and a bit nationalist so it is extremely unlikely that he will do it. We all know that Belarusian society is very passive so themselves they will do nothing in this direction.
cusing everybody around of being a spy or secret police agent.
I agree this wasn’t smart. Korwin was always a bit of clown, that is why he archived nothing in politics. UPR need to choose new leader.
Lizol, you're the only one posting "news" from Poland.
What does this tell you?
Please try to respect the international character of this board a bit and post only stories of international interest. Your local news from Poland are becoming a real nuisance.
Dzieki/Thank you all
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"My country people post from my country and yes I am polish as well and I stand by with heart beat. Why do you need 10000 people write and give same article. Lizol and Lukasz are doing good job at it, yes I can post too is that important no --- agreement is they post articles they are in control of all articles from my country. I concentrate on other aspects. Eto you don’t need 20 people to paint one wall fore two is enough isn’t?"
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Deko dygresujac, co tam u was slychac? Glosowaliscie, jak wam pisalam wczesniej glosowalam na nowego kaczorka:}}Donalda, tak z usmiechem. No dobra trzymta sie
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