Brussels, 22/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the European spirit of the Polish people, following the victory of Donald Tusk's liberal party in the Polish general elections on Sunday 21 October. 'I congratulate Mr Donald Tusk on his electoral success. I would like to emphasize the importance of Poland's contribution to the European Union and the European spirit of the Polish people.' The Commission president added: 'I am confident that there will be a fruitful cooperation with the next Polish government.' The Portuguese presidency of the EU also welcomed Polish democracy, and said it hoped for good cooperation with the new government.
Donald Tusk's Civic Platform (PO) liberal party won 41.9% of the vote according to provisional results published on Monday by Poland's electoral commission, which would give it 208 of the 460 seats in the Polish parliament. The Right and Justice (PiS) party of the outgoing prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, came second with 32.04% of the vote and 164 seats. Electoral turnout was 55%, the highest since the fall of Communism in 1989. Tusk said he wants to establish a wide alliance in parliament to allow economic reforms to take place and improve Poland's relations with the EU. With 8.8% of the vote and 35 seats, the centrist Peasant Party may be one of the coalition parties. It has said it is prepared to hold dialogue with the PO. Jaroslaw Kaczynski said opposition would be tough and determined.
The downbeat reaction of the European Commission and Portuguese presidency hide the general relief in Brussels following the defeat of a Eurosceptic government, but the European Parliament made no attempt to hide its delight. 'The Polish people are to be congratulated on their choice of government,' said the leader of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. 'They have sent a clear message that Poland's future lies in working closely with their European friends rather than adopting anti-European positions at virtually every opportunity,' explained Schulz. 'We in the European Parliament look forward to reinforcing our relations with the Polish people and the incoming Polish government,' said Joseph Daul, President of the EPP-ED Group, welcoming the victory of the Civic Platform (whose MEPs are in the EPP-ED group at the EP). Donald Tusk's victory sends a 'clear pro-European signal from the Polish voters,' commented Daul. (H.B.)