LIVE THREAD: Polish parliamentary elections 2005

[Lukasz]

Following are profiles of main political parties:

CIVIC PLATFORM (PO) Formed by the liberal wing of the anti-communist Solidarity movement, Civic Platform is the biggest opposition party in the current left-dominated parliament. The party promises tax cuts, deregulation, streamlined bureaucracy, gradual fiscal tightening and more flexible labour laws to spur investment and growth needed to create more jobs. The cornerstone of its economic plan is a single 15-percent personal income, corporate and VAT tax rate. Leaders: Jan Rokita, 46, candidate for prime minister; Donald Tusk, 48, leader and top presidential candidate. Latest ratings: 29-34 percent. Latest results: 2001 parliamentary polls -- 12.7 percent, 2004 European Parliament elections -- 24.1 pct.

LAW AND JUSTICE (PiS) Formed in 2001 by twin brothers Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski, conservative Solidarity activists. They say none of the governments of the past 16 years managed to break up the web of informal, often corrupt ties linking the old guard with new business and political elites. The party espouses conservative social values, highlighting the role of family, patriotism and Poland's Christian heritage. It admires the western European welfare state model, promising a stronger safety net for the poor, tax breaks for families and investment incentives. In the run-up to elections PiS courted both the ultra Catholic right by questioning the rights of homosexuals and the traditional leftist electorate. Leaders: Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski, 56; Ludwik Dorn, 51 Latest ratings: 29-34 percent, Latest results: 2001 parliamentary polls -- 9.5 percent, 2004 European Parliament elections -- 12.7 percent.

DEMOCRATIC LEFT ALLIANCE (SLD) The current ruling party is the political heir of the once all-powerful communist party. Once led by outgoing President Aleksander Kwasniewski, it transformed itself into the Western-style Social Democrats but never shook off the ex-communist stigma. The SLD's latest spell in power brought Poland into the European Union, but a string of sleaze scandals marred its rule and failure to curb unemployment slashed its 41 percent support in the last elections to single digits. Leaders: Wojciech Olejniczak, 31, Grzegorz Napieralski, 31 Latest ratings: 4-8 percent Latest results: 2001 parliamentary polls -- 41 percent, 2004 European Parliament elections -- 9.4 percent

SELF-DEFENCE The party is a brainchild of former pig farmer Andrzej Lepper, 51, who rose to prominence in the 1990s organising roadblocks to demand higher farm subsidies and defend farmers who, like himself, defaulted on bank loans. The party shot to the top of rankings in the runup to Poland's European Union entry last year but lost ground after Poland's upbeat first year in the bloc. Leaders: Andrzej Lepper, 51 Latest ratings: 8-12 percent Latest results: 2001 parliamentary polls -- 10.2 percent, 2004 European Parliament elections -- 10.8 percent.

LEAGUE OF POLISH FAMILES (LPR) Formed in 2001, the party has opposed Poland's EU membership and says the Polish nation must be defended against the forces of globalisation and international institutions. In overwhelmingly Catholic Poland, the party mainly appeals to ultra-conservative and xenophobic elements in Polish society. Its youth arm, Pan-Polish Youth, has been linked by mainstream media to local skinheads and anti-Semitic incidents. Leaders: Roman Giertych, 34, Maciej Giertych, 69, presidential candidate Latest ratings: 5-11 percent Latest results: 2001 parliamentary polls -- 7.9 percent, 2004 European Parliament elections -- 15.9 percent

Two favorites, PO and PiS will form center-right coalition. Winner will take the PM post.

Last poll (23 Sep):

PiS 33%
PO 28,7%
Samoobrona 10,3%
LPR 8,3%
SLD 7,6%
PSL 5,3%

election threshold: 5%

[Lukasz]

[Lukasz]

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[anonymoussierra]

Dzieki Lukasz

[Lukasz]

So to which party you voted ?

My votes goes to:
Parliament: PO
Senate: PO, PiS and UPR

[lizol]

I voted:

Sejm (lower chamber of the parliament) - PO
Senate: 2 x PO, 1 x P&S

[AdmSmith]

any news yet?

[lizol]

First exit poll results will be announced in 40 minutes.

[anonymoussierra]

PO Lukasz PO!!!!

[Uriah_lost]

Tagged for review.
Thanks to those keeping us updated.

[anonymoussierra]

I voted all for PO

chlipka english english

Sejm PO
Sanate 2xPO 1xPO

prawica wygra

[anonymoussierra]

Next week I am voting for Tusk

[lizol]

Me too, probably, but in 2 weeks :-)))

[lizol]

"chlipka english english"

?????????????????

[AdmSmith]

Anyone remember KLD?

[lizol]

Ooooh, you shouldn't have, it's not fair. That was long time ago and not truth. :-)))

[AdmSmith]

I still have a yellow T-shirt.

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}}}}}}}To byl zart:}}}}}, chcialam pisac po naszemu, ale przypomnialo mi sie, iz to jest angielska strona i nie wypada.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"This was kind of joke, I have forgotten this is English website and it wouldn’t be appropriate to use our language; some don’t understand."

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thank you lizol/dzieki trzym sie

[lizol]

Exit polls:

PiS- 28
PO - 26
SLD - 11
Samoobrona (Self-Defence) - 10
LPR - 8
PSL - 5

[lizol]

Percent, of course

[AdmSmith]

OBOP/PBS: PiS - 27,6%. PO - 24,1%.
SLD - 11,3%, LPR - 10,5%, Samoobrona - 10,5%, PSL - 5,9%
http://www.gazeta.pl/0,0.html