Posted on 10/23/2005 12:50:34 PM PDT by Redmen4ever
WARSAW (AFP) - Poland elected the conservative, staunchly Catholic Lech Kaczynski president, bucking pre-vote surveys which had consistently put his liberal rival Donald Tusk in the lead, exit polls showed.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.news.yahoo.com ...
The center-right conservative won by appealing to the populist-conservatives and the socialists, whose candidates lost in the first round of voting. In doing this, he emphasized his differences with the neo-liberal, or market-oriented liberal, or libertarian-like opponent. This may have damaged the formerly good relationship between their two parties, the Justice and Law Party and the Civic Platform Party.
In the first round of voting, for parliament as well as for president, these two parties ran as potential coalition partners, and as agreed to the general direction in which Poland should go; i.e., away from socialism and toward a free-market economy. At that time, their similarities were emphasized, and the focus was on their differences with the socialists were emphasized.
But, when they were pitted against each other in the run-off, the conservative won by appealing the those who either want big government or at least are afraid of change.
Hopefully, this political manuveuring will now be reconciled, and the real work will begin of in serving the Polish people by moving the country, responsibily, in a free market direction.
Same thing in our country: The liberals and socialists would like nothing more than for the social conservatives and the libertarians to start fighting each other.
I should note that the word liberal is used in Europe to mean something more like a Libertarian.
Tusk was the better candidate and the only one who proposed a flat tax. Had his party won, and Donald Tusk won the presidency, Poland would have had a flat tax and the economy would have taken off.
No such luck.
At least they didn't elect any more commies this time.
Actually Poland might get a flat tax after all... the Conservatives are more prone to populism than the free-marketeers, but in essence they agree in simplifying the tax code.
Hey Donald, Your fired!
Free Market ideology: 0
True conservatism: 1
RERUM NOVARUM - ON CAPITAL AND LABOR
Centesimus Annus - Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
You mean the voters will be cheated again and their votes will be stolen for the sake of "free" market?
What will happen to all them think tank free market looters, don't you care about them?
Interesting. I was curious about your perspective.
As long as they get rid of the communist holdovers. A lot of them remained in government even after the system fell.
Kudos to our friends and allies the Polish people, as their votes are being counted.
Yep. Every time they have an election we should remember that.
Looking forward to seeing the final vote tally.
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