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Tusk Leads, Kaczynski Second in Poland
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Donald Tusk maintains his position as the frontrunner in Poland's presidential election, according to a poll by GFK published in Rzeczpospolita. 47 per cent of respondents would support the Civic Platform (PO) nominee in next month's ballot, up six points since August.
Warsaw mayor Lech Kaczynski of the Law and Justice Party (PiS) is second with 30 per cent, followed by Self-Defence of the Polish Republic (SRP) leader Andrzej Lepper with 13 per cent, and Marek Borowski of the Social Democracy of Poland (SDP) with five per cent. Support is lower for Jaroslaw Kalinowski of the Peasant's Party (PSL), Maciej Giertych of the League of Polish Families (LPR) and Henryka Bochniarz of the Democratic Party (PD).
SLD member Aleksander Kwasniewski has been Poland's head of state since 1995. The election is scheduled for Oct. 9. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off would take place on Oct. 23.
The presidential race has lost two contenders. Centre (C) party senator Zbigniew Religa dropped out and endorsed Tusk. Former prime minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) withdrew alleging a "dirty campaign of defamation" after questions emerged about alleged false testimony in a 2001 personal assets declaration.
In a prospective run-off scenario, Tusk leads Kaczynski by 20 points.
Polling Data
What candidate would you support in the presidential election?
Sept. 2005 | Aug. 2005 | |
Donald Tusk (PO) | 47% | 41% |
Lech Kaczynski (PiS) | 30% | 23% |
Andrzej Lepper (SRP) | 13% | 10% |
Marek Borowski (SDP) | 5% | 2% |
Jaroslaw Kalinowski (PSL) | 3% | 2% |
Maciej Giertych (LPR) | 1% | 3% |
Henryka Bochniarz (PD) | 1% | -- |
Run-Off Scenario
Donald Tusk (PO) 60% - 40% Lech Kaczynski (PiS)
Source: GFK / Rzeczpospolita
Methodology: Interviews to 965 Polish adults, conducted from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.