Andrzej Duda, candidate of the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) won the first round of presidential elections on May 10. It is a huge “surprise”, writes Gazeta Wyborcza, adding that Duda mustered 36.69 percent of the vote. Bronisław Komorowski, the incumbent president supported by the ruling centre-right Civic Platform (PO), who was a clear favourite before Sunday’s vote, came second on 29.14 percent while the independent candidate and former rockman Paweł Kukiz got 21.28 percent. Participation was 45.88 per cent.
“It is a serious warning for the entire team in power”, said Komorowski, who will face Duda in a May 24 runoff. For most commentators, the first round results constitute a “bucket of cold water” for Komorowski and his allies and may herald “a political earthquake” in Poland ahead of Autumn’s parliamentary elections.
Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of the centre left daily Gazeta Wyborcza daily, warns that –
the first round shows Poland may yet again fall into the hands of irresponsible and incompetent people.
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