Poland’s ‘most important’ election since 1989 could shape ties with EU, Ukraine
- A victory by the nationalist Law and Justice party could fuel tensions between Poland and the European Union
- Fatigue is growing in Poland on providing more help to Ukraine, as it has hosted 1 million refugees displaced by Russia’s invasion
Poles began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will prove crucial for future ties with the European Union and neighbouring Ukraine, as the ruling populists bid for a third consecutive term in power.
Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk.
Polling stations across the EU and Nato member opened at 5am GMT (1pm Hong Kong time) and will close at 7pm GMT (3am Hong Kong time, Monday) with exit polls expected immediately after and final results on Monday.
Some 29 million people are eligible to vote, including half a million registered abroad in a large diaspora.
A PiS victory could exacerbate tensions with the EU and Ukraine and will dismay campaigners concerned about the future of media freedoms, women’s and migrants’ rights.
“We are in the EU, and we want to stay there, but in an EU of sovereign countries,” PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said at the party’s last major rally in Sandomierz on Friday.