Traditionalist snatches victory in Polish election

Poland: EU relations with Poland may be heading for difficulty after the conservative, EU-critical mayor of Warsaw, Lech Kaczynski, came from behind to be elected president last night.

Mr Kaczynski (56) snatched victory from liberal favourite Donald Tusk in the final days of the campaign to take 52 per cent of the poll, according to exit polls last night.

His victory completes a political shift to the right in Poland, and mirrors last month's general election success of his twin brother Jaroslaw who lead their Law and Justice Party (PiS) to victory by overtaking Mr Tusk's Civic Platform (PO) in the final days of the campaign.

Mr Kaczynski ran a highly effective campaign, promising to eradicate Poland's rampant corruption, promote traditional moral values and create a new "fourth republic", a French-style presidential democracy.

Last night's result showed how his policies found favour far beyond his traditional stronghold of highly conservative, religious voters in rural areas.

The key to Mr Kaczynski's victory was the backing he secured in recent days from right-wing candidates eliminated in the first round, as well as the endorsement of the radical right-wing religious radio station Radio Maryja.

His campaign turned dirty last week as he cranked up anti-German rhetoric in an attempt to win votes of older Poles with memories of the second World War. Mr Kaczynski published a report claiming that the Nazis caused damage worth at least €45 billion during the occupation and destruction of the Polish capital.

Mr Kaczynski also suggested Mr Tusk, who has close relations with Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel, would be too "ready to compromise" with Germany.

Days earlier, Mr Kaczynski's election manager revealed that Mr Tusk's grandfather had served for a brief time in the Wehrmacht during the war.

The attacks helped Mr Kaczynski close the gap and overtake Mr Tusk, a 48-year old historian from the northern port city of Gdansk.

Mr Kaczynski is a colourful if controversial figure in Polish public life. He was born 45 minutes after his brother Jaroslaw in the ruins of Warsaw in 1949. The two brothers became stars overnight when they appeared in the Polish classic film About the Two Who Would Steal the Moon. It was the first and last film of the two brothers, who went on to study law at Warsaw University.

Lech became an adviser to the the Solidarity trade union and its leader Lech Walesa, and was imprisoned by the communist authorities in December 1981.

The brothers became advisers to Mr Walesa when he became president and Mr Kaczynski served as justice minister from 2000 to 2001, when he founded the PiS with his brother.

Mr Kaczynski is known for his homophobic outbursts, and has twice banned gay pride parades in Warsaw.

Last night's result ends a month of political limbo since the general election, and will strengthen the hand of the PiS in coalition talks with the PO.

Shortly after winning the election, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski relinquished his claim to the prime minister's office, reflecting public concern at identical twins filling the country's two top jobs.

Jarsolaw Kaczynski is unlikely to be a minister in the new government, but is expected to be an influential figure behind the scenes.

Mr Kaczynski replaces the outgoing president Aleksander Kwasniewski, a popular head of state who introduced a new constitution and lead Poland into Nato and the EU during his decade in office. However, he had close ties to the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), swept from office a month ago on a tide of corruption.

The Polish constitution gives the president responsibility for the military and a large say over foreign policy. Mr Kaczynski has said he will run a more "active" presidency but follow Mr Kwasniewski's foreign policy lead. His priority will be close relations with Washington, while relations with Berlin and Moscow may suffer. He has been a frequent, critic of the EU, though observers suggest the office of the presidency and broad public confidence in EU institutions, will lead him to moderate his tone.

One of Mr Kaczynski's first decisions will be whether to implement or reverse the decision of the last government to withdraw the 1,500 Polish troops stationed Iraq early next year.