Duda wins second round

While the official results are yet to be released, the clear winner of the presidential race has already emerged.

Opposition candidate Andrzej Duda has won by several percentage points against incumbent Bronisław Komorowski.

A clear winner at the start of the presidential campaign, the outgoing head of state has since fallen behind his contender, losing in the second round.

“Duda accurately read the sentiments of the public who shared one common goal – change,” says political analyst Ewa Marciniak, from the Institute of Political Science.

“Admittedly, we are yet to find out what course this change is to take, but it stands for a revival, as well as dynamic development in the political arena and society.”

The head of the Batory Foundation, Aleksander Smolar, meanwhile, lists complacency of Komorowski, the disillusionment of society and frustration with the longest term of one ruling party in office of all post-communist countries in the region as some of the key reasons behind the incumbent’s downfall.