Tusk poised for historic second term as Polish PM

Poland voted in an election yesterday that could give prime minister Donald Tusk’s centre-right Civic Platform four more years in power to pursue gradual economic reforms and preserve political stability.

Civic Platform, which guided Poland through the 2008-9 financial crisis and favours closer ties with the rest of the European Union, would be the first party to hold on to power in an election in Poland since Communism collapsed in 1989.

Mr Tusk, 54, has promised to continue cautious reforms if he retains power, and has made it clear he will press on with efforts to ensure stable relations with Germany and Russia.

But some polls before the election showed former PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s conservative-nationalist Law and Justice party catching up.

Mr Kaczynski rails against Germany and Russia and his return to power after four years could threaten ties with Poland’s largest neighbours.