Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 22, 2007

Polish Opposition Party Emerges Victorious in Parliamentary Elections
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19F8050:A6F02AD83191E160FE801178F0BF76BE9574F7DCC14957C0 Donald Tusk's
Civic Platform party captured more than 41 percent of vote, outgoing
Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski concedes defeat Poland's
pro-business opposition Civic Platform Party has emerged victorious in
Sunday's parliamentary elections.







Donald Tusk celebrates election victory, 22 Oct 2007With more than 90
percent of the votes counted, Donald Tusk's Civic Platform has
captured more than 41 percent of the vote. About 32 percent went to
outgoing Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party.

Mr. Kaczynski has conceded defeat, and Mr. Tusk has pledged to help
Poles feel comfortable in their own country again.

Mr. Tusk is expected to seek a coalition with the Peasant Party.

Civic Platform is pushing for lower taxes on businesses, a smaller
bureaucracy, and closer integration into the European economic system.
It also wants to withdraw Polish troops from Iraq.

EU officials welcomed the results Monday, expressing confidence that
ties with Poland will strengthen.

Commenting Monday on the opposition's victory, former president Lech
Walesa criticized the administration of Mr. Kaczynski, and said Poles
had rescued their honor with the elections.

Mr. Tusk's Civic Platform is likely to fall short of a majority of
seats in parliament, but is expected to form a coalition with the
centrist Polish Peasants Party.

Sunday's elections end two years of conservative rule by Prime
Minister Kaczynski and his twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski.

The prime minister called Sunday's election two years early after his
government collapsed in a corruption scandal.

He now promises that his Law and Order party will be a strong
opposition during the next government.

President Kaczynski's current term ends in 2010. Some information for
this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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