The Polish head of state, the conservative Andrzej Duda, candidate for his re-election, is forced to a second round on July 12 by his liberal rival Rafal Trzaskowski, at the end of the first round disputed on Sunday June 28.
Andrzej Duda obtained the support of 41.8% of Poles while the mayor of Warsaw was supported by 30.4% of the voters, according to this poll carried out by the IPSOS institute after the closing of the polling stations.
“The advance is huge and I appreciate it”, welcomed Mr. Duda, 48, during his election night in Lowicz in central Poland. For the Liberal candidate, the second round will be “A choice between open Poland (…) and those who seek conflicts all the time”.
“I will be the candidate for change”, promised Mr. Trzaskowski, also 48 years old, whose watchword is ” We’ve had enough “ and which has many reasons to hope for the support of a good part of the voters of other competitors.
Controversial reforms
The election campaign was dominated by concerns over the state of democracy and social issues, as Poland faces its first recession since the end of communism.
Poles moved en masse to the polling stations and the turnout was 62.90%, according to the same poll.
Duda is supported by the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), considered a key ally of US President Donald Trump, while European partners in Warsaw criticize his reforms, believing that they are eroding democracy, barely three decades later the fall of communism.
A victory for Mr. Trzaskowski, would strike a heavy blow on the government of the Law and Justice party (PiS), which was behind a series of controversial reforms, notably in the area of justice.
The Polish government has also implemented in recent years a series of popular social benefits which Trzaskowski has undertaken to keep in the event of a victory. Duda’s victory should cement the grip of the ruling party – at least until the next legislative elections in 2023. But his defeat could see its influence weaken and call for early elections.
Almost 10% of undecided Poles
During the campaign, Mr. Duda fueled controversy by supporting PiS attacks on gay rights and Western values. He compared “LGBT ideology” to a new form of communism. Mr. Trzaskowski, he defends the rights of homosexuals and said he was open to the idea of civil partnerships of the same sex.
According to an express study carried out after the announcement of the poll at the exit from the polls, and published Sunday evening by TVN television, Duda can count on 45.5% of the votes, against 44.7% for Trzaskowski, 9.9% Poles remaining undecided.
“This is a decisive moment. Much will really depend on this decision. ”said anti-communist icon Lech Walesa while voting in Gdansk with a clear plastic visor on his face. Walesa, who was elected the first democratic president of Poland in 1990, is a harsh critic of the current government.
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