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Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win
(about 1 hour later)
Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice party has won parliamentary elections.Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice party has won parliamentary elections.
Exit polls suggest it has enough seats to govern alone, with an anticipated 39% of the vote.Exit polls suggest it has enough seats to govern alone, with an anticipated 39% of the vote.
Its eurosceptic leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has claimed victory, and the outgoing Prime Minister, Ewa Kopacz of the centrist Civic Platform party, has admitted defeat.Its eurosceptic leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has claimed victory, and the outgoing Prime Minister, Ewa Kopacz of the centrist Civic Platform party, has admitted defeat.
Law and Justice has strong support in Poland's rural areas.Law and Justice has strong support in Poland's rural areas.
If the numbers suggested by the exit poll are confirmed, it will be the first time since democracy was restored in Poland in 1989 that a single party has won enough seats to govern alone, the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says.If the numbers suggested by the exit poll are confirmed, it will be the first time since democracy was restored in Poland in 1989 that a single party has won enough seats to govern alone, the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says.
"We will exert law but there will be no taking of revenge. There will be no squaring of personal accounts," said Mr Kaczynski. "There will be no kicking of those who have fallen through their own fault and very rightly so."
Analysis: Adam Easton, BBC News, Warsaw
If the exit poll is proved correct, it was a historic election. It's the first time since democracy was restored in Poland in 1989 a party has won enough seats to govern alone. It will be the first time since 1989 that there will be no left-wing party in parliament.
Law and Justice won big because they offered simple, concrete policies for the many in Poland that feel untouched by the country's impressive economic growth. It offered higher child care benefits and tax breaks for the less well-off.
After eight years in office many Poles had grown weary of the governing centrist Civic Platform's unfulfilled promises, scandals and what was perceived by some to be an aloof attitude.
Law and Justice also stuck with its winning formula of presenting a more moderate face than its rather combative leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who's not afraid to accuse his political opponents of standing on the side of former communist police or claim that migrants bring dangerous diseases with them.
In this case that moderate face belongs to Beata Szydlo, a 52-year-old miner's daughter and avid reader, who will become the country's next prime minister.
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.
Mr Kaczynski, 66, is not running as prime minister and has instead nominated Beata Szydlo, a relative unknown, as the party's choice for the post.Mr Kaczynski, 66, 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 said Mr Kaczynski could take on the top job himself if Law and Justice scored a convincing victory. However, some observers said Mr Kaczynski could take on the top job himself in the months to come.
The Law and Justice party is close to the country's powerful Roman Catholic Church and has promised increased benefits and tax breaks,The Law and Justice party is close to the country's powerful Roman Catholic Church and has promised increased benefits and tax breaks,
Europe's refugee crisis proved to be a key topic of debate before the election. The outgoing government's decision to take in 7,000 migrants was strongly criticised by Law and Justice and other opposition parties.Europe's refugee crisis proved to be a key topic of debate before the election. The outgoing government's decision to take in 7,000 migrants was strongly criticised by Law and Justice and other opposition parties.
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.
Civic Platform for its part sought closer ties with the EU.Civic Platform for its part sought closer ties with the EU.
Despite overseeing eight years of impressive economic growth it was beaten into second place and is likely to become the main opposition party. Despite overseeing eight years of impressive economic growth it was beaten into second place and will become the main opposition party.
Our correspondent says that Poland has swung to the right because many Poles feel they have not benefitted from the growth and about two million have sought better-paid jobs abroad. Only three other parties are projected to win enough votes to get seats in parliament: the Polish Peasants' Party, and two new groups, a right-wing party led by rock star Pawel Kukiz and Modern Poland, a pro-business party.