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November 23, 2008 4:56:28 CST

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Poles Oust Brothers, Vote in Center-Right

Posted Oct 21, 07 8:50 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Poles ousted the conservative Kaczynski twins today and voted in a center-right party that vows better relations with the EU. The highest turnout in nearly 20 years backed Civic Platform by 44% over Law and Justice's 30%, setting up opposition leader Donald Tusk to guide parliament against President Lech Kaczynski. Opposition parties won enough seats to top Kaczynski's veto power, Reuters reports.

Backed mostly by young and urban voters, Civic Platform vows to pull troops from Iraq and take a hard line against Bush's planned missile shield. Platform also appealed to financial markets by pledging reforms and a chance to adopt the euro. Restoring ties with the EU "will be a huge change in style," said one analyst. "This is the end of a dark period for this country."

Source Reuters

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Leader of the Civic Platform Donald Tusk waves a soccer scarf with an inscription Polska, or Poland, as he celebrates first exit polls results, pointing his party as the winner of the parliamentary elections,...   (Associated Press)
Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski speaks to supporters during the election night in Warsaw,Poland, Sunday , Oct. 21, 2007. Poland's opposition Civic Platform defeated the ruling conservatives of...   (Associated Press)
Leader of the Civic Platform Donald Tusk greets supporters as they wait for first exit polls of the parliamentary elections to be announced, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. Poles were choosing...   (Associated Press)
Leader of the Civic Platform Donald Tusk smiles after first exit polls are announced, pointing his party as the winner of the parliamentary elections, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. Poles were...   (Associated Press)
Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski reacts after speaking to supporters during the election night in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday , Oct. 21, 2007. Poland's opposition Civic Platform defeated the ruling...   (Associated Press)
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Poland • Law and Justice Party • Lech Kaczynski • Donald Tusk • Jaroslaw Kaczynski


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