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| Polish opposition set for big win | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The centre-right opposition Civic Platform party is heading for a landslide victory in the Polish general election, partial results suggest. | The centre-right opposition Civic Platform party is heading for a landslide victory in the Polish general election, partial results suggest. |
| With a third of ballots counted, Donald Tusk's party is on track to win 40% of the vote, or 194 seats in parliament. | With a third of ballots counted, Donald Tusk's party is on track to win 40% of the vote, or 194 seats in parliament. |
| The Prime Minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, whose Law and Justice Party is second with 32%, has already admitted defeat. | The Prime Minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, whose Law and Justice Party is second with 32%, has already admitted defeat. |
| Sunday's election was called two years early after Mr Kaczynski's coalition collapsed over a corruption probe. | Sunday's election was called two years early after Mr Kaczynski's coalition collapsed over a corruption probe. |
| The prime minister's twin brother, Lech Kaczynski, is Poland's president. | The prime minister's twin brother, Lech Kaczynski, is Poland's president. |
| The Law and Justice Party (PiS) has pursued former communists and adopted a sceptical approach to the European Union, while Civic Platform (PO) has promised a more business-friendly administration with closer ties to Europe, correspondents say. | The Law and Justice Party (PiS) has pursued former communists and adopted a sceptical approach to the European Union, while Civic Platform (PO) has promised a more business-friendly administration with closer ties to Europe, correspondents say. |
| 'Restoring hope' | 'Restoring hope' |
| Voting in Sunday's election was extended for three hours in some parts of the country as officials struggled to cope with the sharply increased turnout of 55% - the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. | Voting in Sunday's election was extended for three hours in some parts of the country as officials struggled to cope with the sharply increased turnout of 55% - the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. |
| Shortly afterwards, exit polls for the TVP state television network suggested Mr Kaczynski's party had received 30.4% of the vote, some 13% less than Donald Tusk's Civic Platform. | |
| I wish Donald Tusk every success and I congratulate him Polish PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski EU may welcome result | I wish Donald Tusk every success and I congratulate him Polish PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski EU may welcome result |
| Another exit poll by the private TVN24 channel predicted the Civic Platform would win 44.2%, leaving the Law and Justice Party on 31.3%. | Another exit poll by the private TVN24 channel predicted the Civic Platform would win 44.2%, leaving the Law and Justice Party on 31.3%. |
| If correct, the Civic Platform and its preferred coalition partner, the Polish Peasants' Party, will win a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm. | If correct, the Civic Platform and its preferred coalition partner, the Polish Peasants' Party, will win a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm. |
| The Civic Platform's leader, Donald Tusk, was showered with confetti as he appeared in front of cheering supporters at its campaign headquarters after the polls were announced. | The Civic Platform's leader, Donald Tusk, was showered with confetti as he appeared in front of cheering supporters at its campaign headquarters after the polls were announced. |
| "We went into this election in order to make everyone, without exception, feel good in their country, in their home," he said. | "We went into this election in order to make everyone, without exception, feel good in their country, in their home," he said. |
| "I thank everyone who, in an impartial way, has helped restore hope among Poles." | "I thank everyone who, in an impartial way, has helped restore hope among Poles." |
| Later, Mr Kaczynski admitted defeat and congratulated his rival leader at a speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters. | Later, Mr Kaczynski admitted defeat and congratulated his rival leader at a speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters. |
| Mr Kaczynski said his party would be a "decisive, tough opposition" | Mr Kaczynski said his party would be a "decisive, tough opposition" |
| "We have failed against a wide front," he said. "I wish Donald Tusk every success and I congratulate him." | "We have failed against a wide front," he said. "I wish Donald Tusk every success and I congratulate him." |
| Mr Kaczynski blamed the election result on a coalition of newspapers and political parties, who he said had stopped at nothing in their campaign to oust him. | Mr Kaczynski blamed the election result on a coalition of newspapers and political parties, who he said had stopped at nothing in their campaign to oust him. |
| He said the high turnout was a sign of the strength of Polish democracy and that his party should be proud of the five million votes he said it had won, almost two million more than two years ago. | He said the high turnout was a sign of the strength of Polish democracy and that his party should be proud of the five million votes he said it had won, almost two million more than two years ago. |
| In conclusion, Mr Kaczynski promised the Law and Justice Party would be a "decisive, tough opposition" in parliament and that future elections would be happier for the party. | In conclusion, Mr Kaczynski promised the Law and Justice Party would be a "decisive, tough opposition" in parliament and that future elections would be happier for the party. |
| The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Warsaw says the prime minister's speech set the tone for his party - a mix of defiance and despondency. | The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Warsaw says the prime minister's speech set the tone for his party - a mix of defiance and despondency. |
| Only two years after they came to power, one of Europe's most colourful and controversial governments has been voted out of office, our correspondent says. | Only two years after they came to power, one of Europe's most colourful and controversial governments has been voted out of office, our correspondent says. |
| Democratic disillusion | Democratic disillusion |
| Earlier, Mr Kaczynski chatted with voters as he queued at a polling station in Warsaw. | Earlier, Mr Kaczynski chatted with voters as he queued at a polling station in Warsaw. |
| I didn't like being talked down to for the last two years Jan ZawiszWarsaw voter Purge overshadows vote Voters hear Church's voice | I didn't like being talked down to for the last two years Jan ZawiszWarsaw voter Purge overshadows vote Voters hear Church's voice |
| "We have to accept the will of the voters, that's obvious," he said after voting, according to Reuters news agency. | "We have to accept the will of the voters, that's obvious," he said after voting, according to Reuters news agency. |
| "We won't get angry at the people and lessons from this campaign will be learned." | "We won't get angry at the people and lessons from this campaign will be learned." |
| His rival, Mr Tusk, also cast his vote in the capital city. | His rival, Mr Tusk, also cast his vote in the capital city. |
| "Of course I expect to win, but I also know perfectly well that it will not be easy and the battle goes on until the last minute," he was quoted as saying. | "Of course I expect to win, but I also know perfectly well that it will not be easy and the battle goes on until the last minute," he was quoted as saying. |
| Poles have become disillusioned with democracy following a succession of unhappy coalition governments, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw. | Poles have become disillusioned with democracy following a succession of unhappy coalition governments, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw. |
| Many were polarised by Prime Minister Kaczynski's policies | Many were polarised by Prime Minister Kaczynski's policies |
| The country is polarised over the figure of the 58-year-old prime minister, who commands both strong support and deep opposition, says our correspondent. | The country is polarised over the figure of the 58-year-old prime minister, who commands both strong support and deep opposition, says our correspondent. |
| He has given extra power to anti-corruption agencies and purged former communists, while promoting an assertive foreign policy and traditional Catholic values. | He has given extra power to anti-corruption agencies and purged former communists, while promoting an assertive foreign policy and traditional Catholic values. |
| Among his supporters, Andrzej Sulkowski said he voted for Law and Justice "because this party is telling the truth and doing something". | Among his supporters, Andrzej Sulkowski said he voted for Law and Justice "because this party is telling the truth and doing something". |
| "In their two years of government they did what they could," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "In their two years of government they did what they could," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
| But one of Mr Tusk's supporters, Jan Zawisz, said he "didn't like being talked down to for the last two years". | But one of Mr Tusk's supporters, Jan Zawisz, said he "didn't like being talked down to for the last two years". |