Poland election: President Komorowski concedes to rival Duda

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded the election to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls.

They suggested Mr Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%.

Mr Duda had edged Mr Komorowski, who had been the favourite, in the first round but did not gain the 50% needed to win outright.

The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32862772

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But he was still a relative unknown when the opposition Law and Justice party, now led by the late president's twin brother Jaroslaw, endorsed him for the presidential election.

Some observers described him as a stand-in for Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who they said was unwilling to risk running against the popular Komorowski.

Duda's unlikely victory, the conservatives' first major electoral success in nearly a decade, has Law and Justice smelling blood ahead of a parliamentary election in the autumn, with potential ramifications for Poland's standing in Europe.

"From our point of view, this election allows us to break the glass ceiling," said Law and Justice deputy leader Adam Lipinski. "It paves the way to a clear win in the parliamentary elections."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/polands-new-president-andrzej-duda-heralds-shift-to-the-right-10273812.html

[iandhr]

1. Damn it

Now I can't get The Camptown Ladies out of my head