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People queue outside a polling station during the presidential election in Warsaw
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poles stood in the
long lines to vote in a close-fought presidential election on Sunday that could
reshape Poland’s tense relationship with the European Union and the socially
conservative agenda of ruling nationalists.
long lines to vote in a close-fought presidential election on Sunday that could
reshape Poland’s tense relationship with the European Union and the socially
conservative agenda of ruling nationalists.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the
ballot takes place seven weeks later than originally scheduled, although Poland
has had relatively few cases and deaths.
ballot takes place seven weeks later than originally scheduled, although Poland
has had relatively few cases and deaths.
Poland’s electoral commission apologised
on Sunday for the restrictions at polling stations to stem the spread of the
novel coronavirus, which include wearing masks, maintaining social distance and
asking voters to bring their own pens.
on Sunday for the restrictions at polling stations to stem the spread of the
novel coronavirus, which include wearing masks, maintaining social distance and
asking voters to bring their own pens.
“The pandemic is independent of
election commissions, but the introduction of sanitary rigors means a reduction
in the speed at which you can vote,” said Sylwester Marciniak, head of the
National Electoral Commission of Poland.
election commissions, but the introduction of sanitary rigors means a reduction
in the speed at which you can vote,” said Sylwester Marciniak, head of the
National Electoral Commission of Poland.
Many Poles abroad looking for a postal
ballot said they didn’t get their voting slips in time for voting.
ballot said they didn’t get their voting slips in time for voting.
“It’s a shame that not everyone
was given their (election) package on time as a result of the pandemic,”
tweeted Poland’s Ambassador to Britain Arkady Rzegocki.
was given their (election) package on time as a result of the pandemic,”
tweeted Poland’s Ambassador to Britain Arkady Rzegocki.
Incumbent Andrzej Duda, 48, has vowed
to maintain the economic programs of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party,
which include generous social spending and a commitment to protect family
values in the predominantly Catholic country.
to maintain the economic programs of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party,
which include generous social spending and a commitment to protect family
values in the predominantly Catholic country.
“We don’t see the same standard
of living as in Western Europe and that’s what I’d like to achieve,” Duda
said on Friday in Rybnik ‘s southwestern town during one of his last
pre-election campaign stops.
of living as in Western Europe and that’s what I’d like to achieve,” Duda
said on Friday in Rybnik ‘s southwestern town during one of his last
pre-election campaign stops.
His main challenger, the centrist
Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, also 48, seeks to provide a progressive
alternative and to combat the isolation of Poland in the EU after five years of
government-Brussels conflict.
Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, also 48, seeks to provide a progressive
alternative and to combat the isolation of Poland in the EU after five years of
government-Brussels conflict.
Trzaskowski as mayor has proposed sex
education programs in line with recommendations for schools by the World Health
Organization, a move criticized by the PiS as an effort to sexualize children.
education programs in line with recommendations for schools by the World Health
Organization, a move criticized by the PiS as an effort to sexualize children.
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| Poland’s presidential election in Warsaw |
CLASH
OF VALUES
OF VALUES
The European Commission, the EU
executive, has launched an unprecedented legal action against Warsaw since the
PiS came to power in 2015, following criticism that Poland is subverting
democratic norms by making its courts politicised.
executive, has launched an unprecedented legal action against Warsaw since the
PiS came to power in 2015, following criticism that Poland is subverting
democratic norms by making its courts politicised.
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| Poland’s presidential election in Warsaw |
If Duda fails to secure a second
five-year mandate, his successor may hamper the ability of the government to
deepen its reforms of justice by vetoing laws or refusing to appoint judges
selected by PiS allies.
five-year mandate, his successor may hamper the ability of the government to
deepen its reforms of justice by vetoing laws or refusing to appoint judges
selected by PiS allies.
This would probably fuel tensions
within the fragile parliamentary coalition of the PiS, and could force the government
of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to rule as a minority cabinet. Can not be
ruled out from an early national election.
within the fragile parliamentary coalition of the PiS, and could force the government
of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to rule as a minority cabinet. Can not be
ruled out from an early national election.
Closing polling stations by 9.00 p.m.
(1900 GMT) Upon publication of exit polls. If no candidate wins more than 50
per cent of the votes, the two with the largest share will compete on July 12
in a second round.
(1900 GMT) Upon publication of exit polls. If no candidate wins more than 50
per cent of the votes, the two with the largest share will compete on July 12
in a second round.
