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Opposition wins key local mayor election

PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle 08.07.2013 07:37
Law and Justice (PiS) candidate Jerzy Wilk won the mayoral election in the northern city of Elblag, Sunday, in a key test of popularity of Poland's two leading political parties.

Turnout
Turnout in the Elblag election for mayor Sunday was 34 percent: photo - PAP/Adam Warżawa

In the second round of voting, following the first round two weeks ago, Wilk received 51.74 percent of the vote, beating Civic Platform's Elżbieta Gelert on 48.26 percent.

National politicians, including Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk – leader of the ruling Civic Platform – spent time campaigning for their candidates last week in Elblag, 240 kilometres from Warsaw.

The mayor election had to be called after voters recalled the former Civic Platform mayor in a vote in May.

“This is a signal for the whole of Poland that in large cities Law and Justice can win,” Jerzy Wilk said after the results were announced.

Law and Justice is currently leading Civic Platform in national opinion polls by up to nine percent and the election last night will add to the party's belief that it can win the general election in 2015.

The popularity of the centre-right Civic Platform has suffered in recent months as Poland's economy slows. (pg)

source: IAR

tags: politics
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