Poland to hold parliamentary elections on October 9

Poland to hold parliamentary elections on October 9

2011-08-05 03:51:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

WARSAW (BNO NEWS) -- Polish President Bronislaw Komrowski announced on Thursday that the country's parliamentary elections will take place on October 9.

"According to the article 98 of the Polish Constitution, from today August 4, we officially start the election calendar," Komrowski said, signaling the start of the election campaign, as reported by The News.

Komrowski said the election will be held over one day after politicians were debating whether to hold voting over two days to ensure a higher turnout. "The new laws introduce the possibility to vote with a representative and by mail for Polish people living abroad," he added, explaining the new solutions to attract voters.

The largest opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), had called for the election to be held at the end of October, but the President's Office commented that this would clash with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day.

Opinion polls have consistently put the ruling centre-right Civic Platform, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in the lead and commentators expect a second term of office for the party.

Critics have said that having an election during Poland's six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, which began on July 1, could distract the government. President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, however, stated that he does not have a problem with it.

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