Poland result paves way for reform
Source: Agencies |
July 6, 2010, Tuesday
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MODERATE conservative Bronislaw Komorowski has narrowly won Poland's presidency, setting the stage for a political alliance with Prime Minister Donald Tusk that will be expected to deliver promised economic reforms.
Komorowski, a member of Tusk's Civic Platform party, won 52.6 percent of votes in Sunday's poll, according to results based on 95 percent of the ballots, after a cliff-hanger vote that saw his right-wing rival Jaroslaw Kaczynski perform much better than expected.
But political analysts said the unexpected tightness of the presidential race, the prospect of looming local elections and a parliamentary vote due in 2011 could lead Tusk to take a cautious approach in introducing potentially unpopular reforms.
The ruling Civic Platform party faces an elevated budget deficit, high public debt, a public health system in disarray and an inefficient pension system. Changes in the pension system could hit farmers, miners and teachers, among others.
The president can propose and veto laws, has a say in foreign and policy issues and appoints key state officials.
Kaczynski, who heads the main right-wing opposition party and was vying to succeed his twin brother Lech, whose death in a plane crash in April precipitated the vote, scored 47.4 percent. Lech Kaczynski vetoed some of Tusk's reforms in the past.
"You have all the power now. Show us what you can do," Poland's top-selling daily Fakt said on its front page, referring to Tusk's party.
Other newspapers urged the party to deliver on reform, with the Gazeta Wyborcza daily saying Tusk would lose next year's parliamentary election if he failed to do so.
Despite these concerns, markets welcomed Komorowski's victory and the Polish zloty strengthened slightly against the euro and the dollar in early trading yesterday.
On Sunday, Tusk vowed to push ahead with plans for an anchor on public spending. His finance minister, Jacek Rostowski, said a cautious 2011 budget was now crucial.
"We want to spend money in a reasonable way and this will require the support of politicians and citizens. I will ask my political partners and the parliament to help impose some discipline in our public finances," Tusk said.
Poland was the only economy in the 27-nation European Union bloc to avoid recession last year, but a sharp slowdown has hammered tax revenues and driven up the budget deficit to 7 percent of gross domestic product.
Public debt, though low by west European standards, is creeping towards the 55 percent of GDP threshold which, if breached, would by law trigger spending cuts.
Conceding defeat, Kaczynski told supporters his good result in the election boded well for local elections in the autumn and next year's parliamentary poll.
Komorowski, a member of Tusk's Civic Platform party, won 52.6 percent of votes in Sunday's poll, according to results based on 95 percent of the ballots, after a cliff-hanger vote that saw his right-wing rival Jaroslaw Kaczynski perform much better than expected.
But political analysts said the unexpected tightness of the presidential race, the prospect of looming local elections and a parliamentary vote due in 2011 could lead Tusk to take a cautious approach in introducing potentially unpopular reforms.
The ruling Civic Platform party faces an elevated budget deficit, high public debt, a public health system in disarray and an inefficient pension system. Changes in the pension system could hit farmers, miners and teachers, among others.
The president can propose and veto laws, has a say in foreign and policy issues and appoints key state officials.
Kaczynski, who heads the main right-wing opposition party and was vying to succeed his twin brother Lech, whose death in a plane crash in April precipitated the vote, scored 47.4 percent. Lech Kaczynski vetoed some of Tusk's reforms in the past.
"You have all the power now. Show us what you can do," Poland's top-selling daily Fakt said on its front page, referring to Tusk's party.
Other newspapers urged the party to deliver on reform, with the Gazeta Wyborcza daily saying Tusk would lose next year's parliamentary election if he failed to do so.
Despite these concerns, markets welcomed Komorowski's victory and the Polish zloty strengthened slightly against the euro and the dollar in early trading yesterday.
On Sunday, Tusk vowed to push ahead with plans for an anchor on public spending. His finance minister, Jacek Rostowski, said a cautious 2011 budget was now crucial.
"We want to spend money in a reasonable way and this will require the support of politicians and citizens. I will ask my political partners and the parliament to help impose some discipline in our public finances," Tusk said.
Poland was the only economy in the 27-nation European Union bloc to avoid recession last year, but a sharp slowdown has hammered tax revenues and driven up the budget deficit to 7 percent of gross domestic product.
Public debt, though low by west European standards, is creeping towards the 55 percent of GDP threshold which, if breached, would by law trigger spending cuts.
Conceding defeat, Kaczynski told supporters his good result in the election boded well for local elections in the autumn and next year's parliamentary poll.
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