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Poland elections: Conservatives hope to return to power | Poland elections: Conservatives hope to return to power |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Poland is holding parliamentary elections, with the conservatives hoping to return to power after eight years in opposition. | Poland is holding parliamentary elections, with the conservatives hoping to return to power after eight years in opposition. |
Opinion polls in run-up to the election put the Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski well ahead of PM Ewa Kopacz's Civic Platform party. | Opinion polls in run-up to the election put the Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski well ahead of PM Ewa Kopacz's Civic Platform party. |
Law and Justice regained the presidency in May when Andrzej Duda won the poll. | Law and Justice regained the presidency in May when Andrzej Duda won the poll. |
Our correspondent says many Poles are unhappy at their poor prospects, and feel benefits are spread unfairly. | Our correspondent says many Poles are unhappy at their poor prospects, and feel benefits are spread unfairly. |
Law and Justice is most strongly supported in rural areas and by those close to the country's powerful Roman Catholic Church. | |
Civic Platform has been hit by disrepute, with a number of ministers caught up in an eavesdropping scandal last year. | Civic Platform has been hit by disrepute, with a number of ministers caught up in an eavesdropping scandal last year. |
And on Friday, Deputy Justice Minister Monika Zbrojewska was fired after being charged with drink-driving. | And on Friday, Deputy Justice Minister Monika Zbrojewska was fired after being charged with drink-driving. |
'Diseases and parasites' | 'Diseases and parasites' |
Europe's refugee crisis also proved to be a key topic of debate before the election. While the government has agreed to take in 7,000 migrants, opposition parties have spoken out against the move. | Europe's refugee crisis also proved to be a key topic of debate before the election. While the government has agreed to take in 7,000 migrants, opposition parties have spoken out against the move. |
Last week, Mr Kaczynski was criticised for suggesting migrants could bring diseases and parasites to Poland. | Last week, Mr Kaczynski was criticised for suggesting migrants could bring diseases and parasites to Poland. |
The 66-year-old is not running as prime minister, and has instead nominated Beata Szydlo, a relative unknown, as the party's choice for the post. | The 66-year-old is not running as prime minister, and has instead nominated Beata Szydlo, a relative unknown, as the party's choice for the post. |
However, some observers think Mr Kaczynski will take on the top job himself, if Law and Justice scores a convincing victory. | However, some observers think Mr Kaczynski will take on the top job himself, if Law and Justice scores a convincing victory. |
The result of the election is likely to be closely followed among Eurosceptic nations such as the UK. | The result of the election is likely to be closely followed among Eurosceptic nations such as the UK. |
While Civic Platform sought close ties with the EU, one Law and Justice party member told Reuters they were keen for "a less bureaucratic, more cost-effective EU that does not seek deeper political integration". | While Civic Platform sought close ties with the EU, one Law and Justice party member told Reuters they were keen for "a less bureaucratic, more cost-effective EU that does not seek deeper political integration". |