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NEWS FROM POLAND...

Results from 91.53 pct of constituencies

Warsaw, Oct. 10: According to data from 61.93 pct of constituencies Donald Tusk won 35.82 pct of votes and Lech Kaczynski was supported by 33.29 pct of voters. The news was broken by the State Electoral Commission PKW. Andrzej Lepper won 15.56 pct and Marek Borowski 10.19 pct. Turnout was at 49.56 percent.

Kwasniewski: a sense of fulfilment and success

Bialogard, Oct. 7: In two months I will end my term with a feeling of great fulfilment and satisfaction, outgoing Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said Friday in his native town Bialogard, where he visited his secondary school, currently celebrating its 60th anniversary. Kwasniewski, who called his visit in Bialogard "a sentimental journey", said that "very much had been achieved" under his presidency. As milestones in Poland's development in the past years he named the adoption of Poland's constitution, and entry into NATO and the EU. Kwasniewski also laid the cornerstone under a future school gym.

Kwasniewski: New president should strengthen Poland's position in EU, NATO

Warsaw, Oct. 9: President Aleksander Kwasniewski stressed that his successor should work for further strengthening of Poland's position in the European Union and NATO, continue what is good in Poland and change what is bad. Kwasniewski said that voter turnout in the election might reach 55 percent. Asked about Polish-Russian relations during his term in office, Kwasniewski said that he wants them to be as good as possible for the two sides. "I wanted it to be understood both in Russia and in Poland that we live in the new times when there is no Soviet Union, when Poland is sovereign and decides about its policy," Kwasniewski said. According to him, in bilateral relations "much has been done but many matters still await decisions."

Tusk satisfied with election outcome

Warsaw, Oct. 9: "I am happy about the victory since the competition is very intense, the rivals are very strong. I am really satisfied," Civic Platform's presidential candidate Donald Tusk said after exit polls were released showing him as the winner of the first round of the presidential elections. "This is the victory that gave hope to many Poles, the hope that is so much needed before the runoffs," Tusk said. The coming two weeks before the runoffs will be the time of "great positive energy" of millions of people who believe in freedom and solidarity (...), Tusk said. He expressed the hope that Sunday's victory is a good signal for him before the second round of elections. "I am confident that optimism and good energy will win." "A Polish tradition shows that who wins the first round also wins the second (...) I am deeply convinced that it is a good sign for me and most of all for the millions of Poles that voted for me," Tusk said. According to Tusk the new Law and Justice-Civic Platform government will be formed after the runoff election scheduled for October 23.

Tusk on eastern policy

Warsaw, Oct. 7: Donald Tusk has said that as the president he will build Polish-Russian relations on the "foundation of firmness and historic truth." "There certainly be a change to the present policy as so far it has been the policy of gestures and smiles," Tusk told a news conference in Warsaw on Friday. In his opinion this type of policy resulted in recent beatings of Polish diplomats in Moscow. Tusk stressed that also vis-a-vis Belarus Poland should pursue a tough and firm policy and help the democratic opposition there. "I will see to it that our eastern neighbour be granted the name of a friendly state as soon as possible," he added.

L. Kaczynski satisfied with the outcome of elections

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Law and Justice's (PiS) candidate for president Lech Kaczynski is satisfied with the outcome of the 1st round of presidential elections which, in his opinion, gives him a chance for the final victory. He told journalists after initial results were made public that he hoped for "fierce competition" with Donald Tusk in the run-off. Kaczynski said he was concerned about "the tone of some statements made by Tusk," who praised himself and attributed aggression to Kaczynski. He added that the run-off will look quite normal. "I will traverse the country as I used to do during the campaign and I will hold a certain number of debates, hopefully not too many," he said. Addressing foreign reporters Kaczynski said that he wanted good relations with Germany but opposed the Centre for the Expellees. He also said Poland would firmly defend its interests in such cases as the construction of the gas pipeline under the Baltic sea bed."I am convinced that we will win this marathon which was this year presidential campaign," Kaczynski said He said he was convinced of winning the run-off as his vision of Poland as the republic taking equal care of every citizen is more attractive to Poles than "the vision of a liberal experiment." In his opinion the victory will be scored by true people of firm convictions and not by "the products of political marketing." Kaczynski thanked all people involved in his campaign and promised he would work very hard in the coming two weeks to build a better, 4th Republic of Poland. "I would also like to thank millions of Poles who voted for the 4th Republic of Poland. I hope that in two weeks the 4th Republic of Poland will win," said Lech Kaczynski.

Kaczynski to Vatican and U. S.

Warsaw, Oct. 9: If elected, presidential candidate Lech Kaczynski plans to make his first official visits to the Vatican and the U.S. Kaczynski, who cast his vote in the ballot in Warsaw, said he would also reorganize the Presidential Chancellery. Asked why he planned his first presidential visit to the Holy See, Kaczynski replied that "most Poles were Catholic". He added that he had "of course" not forgotten about Paris, Berlin and London, but noted that "good relations with Kiev, Prague, Budapest and Bratislava were as important".

Talks on cabinet lineup after 2nd round - Marcinkiewicz

Warsaw, Oct.9: Law and Justice's candidate for prime minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz said talks between his party and the Civic Platform on the composition of the cabinet would start only after the runoff presidential election due Oct.23. This is because questions pertaining to the cabinet lineup might be used for manoeuvring in the presidential campaign, Marcinkiewicz explained. However, talks on the government action plan could start as soon as on Monday and would last the whole next week, he added.

Rokita: no government before presidential final

Cracow, Oct. 9: No government will be formed before the conclusion of the presidential ballot, deputy PM designate Jan Rokita said Sunday in Cracow. Rokita, leader of the centrist Civic Platform (PO) now forming a coalition government with election winner Law and Justice (PiS), said today's presidential run would probably go into a second round, he also opted for PO candidate Donald Tusk's victory in the election. This will be a difficult victory, and it will probably come in the second round, but it will fundamentally raise the quality of

government in Poland, Rokita declared.Rokita also criticized outgoing president Aleksander Kwasniewski for vetoing plans to hold a simultaneous parliamentary and presidential election, which he called a "foul egg" dealt by Kwasniewski to his successors. This foul egg laid by Aleksander Kwasniewski means that (...) Poland is practically in an interregnum for a month. There will be no government before the presidential elections are over. Please forget about that. Unfortunately it's totally unrealistic, Rokita told reporters.

Presidential voting abroad

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Poles abroad are voting in the Sunday presidential election mostly in Polish embassies and consulates. Poles living in New York have ended voting with the number of those registered doubling the figure for parliamentary elections. Special voting stations have been set up for Polish troops in Iraq where voting is taking place in three army bases, for safety reasons no balloting was planned in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. There are an estimated 1,400 vote-eligible Poles in Iraq. Poles in Slovakia must travel to the country's only voting point in the Polish embassy in Bratislava, nonetheless a record turnout is expected as Polish tourists in the country join local Poles in the ballot. In Brussels consulate staffers expect some 4 thousand people to cast their votes. In Belarus some 500 Polish citizens are on the voting lists in Minsk, Brest and Grodno. The course of voting is quiet. In Rome voting is taking place in the Polish embassy and consulate, only about 3,000 members of Rome's large Polish community are expected to cast votes. A voting station has also been opened in the Polish consulate in Milan. Poles in Paris are showing much greater interest in the presidential than parliamentary elections. Over 4,300 people have registered at two election stations in Paris. Poles staying in France can cast their votes in the Polish consulates in Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon. Around 4,500 of the 200,000-300,000 Poles living in Britain are expected to cast votes in Polish consulates in London and Edinburgh.

Kaczynski wins in Chicago, New York, Tusk wins in Washington

Washington, Oct. 9: Lech Kaczynski won decisively in Chicago, the largest Polonian centre in the United States, while Donald Tusk scored an equally impressive win in Washington. Kaczynski got 4,077 votes (some 74 pc) in the Chicago district, while Tusk got 248 votes (over 60 pc) cast by Poles living in the U.S. capital. Tusk came second in Chicago (1,063 votes), followed by Marek Borowski (118), Andrzej Lepper (89), Janusz Korwin-Mikke (56) and Leszek Bubel (21). Kaczynski came second in Washington (92 votes), followed by Borowski (17). Kaczynski also won in New York, getting 2,214 votes, while Tusk came second, with 1,490 votes. Third came Marek Borowski (137), fourth Andrzej Lepper (87).

Poland offers rescue assistance to quake-hit, Kwasniewski sends condolences to Pakistan

Warsaw, Oct.9: President Aleksander Kwasniewski sent a message of condolences to Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf Sunday in connection with the tragic earthquake. Kwasniewski expressed words of sorrow and compassion on his own behalf and that of the Polish nation. He also assured the Pakistani president of Poland's assistance for Pakistan and its people in coping with the aftermath of the calamity. Poland declared readiness to offer rescue assistance to the Asian countries that were struck by Saturday's earthquake. 25 rescuers are ready to fly to Asia, spokesman for the interior ministry Marek Gieorgica said. "We declared our readiness to the EU'S Monitoring and Information Centre and the UN to send a group of 25 Polish rescuers with sniffer dogs," Gieorgica said.

NBP: Official reserves up to 34.15 billion euros

Warsaw, Oct. 7: Official reserves rose 315.7 ml euros in September to 34,145.9 million euros from 33,83 bln euros in August, the National Bank of Poland said on Friday. From the start of 2004 official reserve data are released in euros instead of dollars as was previously the case.

Samar: car sales continue downward trend

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Samar institute monitoring the car market reported that September was even a worse month as regards the sale of cars than August. Last month only 17,317 new cars were sold, down 2.7 pct on August figure and 15.8 pct on September 2004 figure. After three quarters of this year a total of 184,287 new passenger cars were sold in Poland, down 27.9 pct on the comparative period of 2004, Samar indicates. In the group of 10 most readily bought cars only Citroen witnessed a growth of sale month-on-month and year-on-year. The sale of 10 leading car makes determines the situation on the car market as those makes have dominated 78.68 pct of the Polish car market. The group is led by Skoda with 21,280 cars sold (down 33.2 pct y/y with 11.6 pct share in the market). Second comes Toyota with 21,053 sold cars (down 26.7 pct with 11.4 pct share in the market). Fiat is third which sold 18,749 cars (down 56.6 pct with 10.2 pct share in the market). Opel sold 16,356 cars (down 34.4 pct), Ford - 14,715 (down 36.5 pct), Renault 13,331 (down 46.0 pct), Peugeot - 12,045 (down 31.0 pct), Citroen 10,715 (up 19.9 pct), Volkswagen - 8,946 (down 24.1 pct) and Honda - 7,823 (down 5.6 pct). The sale of delivery vans fell by 11.0 pct y/y with 2,901 sold vehicles, but 17.2 pct more than in August. After three quarters of 2005 Poles bought in total 24,700 delivery vans, down 4.3 pct on the last year figure.

Net value of investment funds' assets up 5.8 pct in September

Warsaw, Oct. 7: The total value of assets managed by the investment funds in September rose by 5.8 pct on August figure to 53.3 bn PLN (16.3 bn USD), indicates a report prepared by Analizy Online and the chamber managing funds and assets. The dynamics of growth of net assets in the past 12 months exceeded plus 52 pct, the report authors wrote. According to estimates, the balance of payments and write-offs was nearly plus 2.1 bn PLN. The September record growth of net assets would not be possible had it not been for huge interest in investment funds' offer that boosted good business conditions in selected capital market segments, the authors of the report wrote.

Pfeifer&Langen Polska SA invests 27.6 mn USD in sugar plant

Sroda Wielkopolska, Oct. 7: Pfeifer&Langen Polska SA invested nearly 90 mn PLN (27.6 mn USD) in the packaging plants and a silo in a sugar making plant in Sroda Wielkopolska, western Poland, German concern representative for Poland Janusz Pierun told a news conference on Friday. The investment created 90 new jobs. Pfeifer&Langen Polska SA is one of Europe's biggest sugar producers. With the output of some 300,000 tons it has dominated 16 pct of the sugar quota allotted to Poland within the framework of the European Union. The concern is Poland's third largest sugar maker. Since 1995 has invested some 450 mn PLN.

New trade centre in Gliwice

Katowice, Oct. 7: Denmark's Braaten+Pedersen developers together with American GE Capital and Norwegian Borgestad will build a 75-million-euro trade and amusement centre in Gliwice, south Poland. The new centre, to be named Forum Gliwice, will employ 1.2 thousand people. The Gliwice centre that will host a French Carrefour market and a multiplex is the first Braaten+Pedersen project in Poland.

Forty percent reject commercials

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Over 40 percent of Poles do not like commercials and feel forced by the media to watch them, a recent study be the Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) showed. According to UOKiK the commercial market needed more self-regulation to eliminate dishonest practices, many complaints also concerned misinformation by commercials. According to Konrad Drozdowski, chairman of a planned Polish Advertising Council, the body's main aim would be to "work our proper advertising norms and standards".

This year alone UOKiK issued 54 decisions concerning consumer rights violations by commercials.

690 mn EU euros for sewage upgrades

Warsaw, Oct. 7: Wroclaw, Lodz and 20 other Polish cities may get 690 million EU euros for sewage processing upgrades. A list of cities with chances for the funds was announced Friday

by the National Environment Protection and Water Economy Fund

which administrates EU funding for ecology. The total costs of the planned sewage upgrades is estimated at one billion euros.

WSE rated 3rd by PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Warsaw, Oct. 7: PriceWaterhouseCoopers has rated the Warsaw Stock Exchange WSE the third stock exchange in Europe as regards the number of debuts, the WSE reported in a statement issued Friday. The first was the stock exchange in London with 249 new companies

floating shares. Euronext reported 37 debuts and the third in the rating, the WSE, reported 27 debuts. If the number of new companies listed in the WSE go up at the present pace the WSE will be Europe's most dynamically growing stock exchange for the 2nd consecutive year, it was written in the statement.

Lower Silesia EU unemployment leader

Brussels, Oct. 7: Poland's southwestern Lower Silesia province had the EU's highest unemployment rate in 2004, the Eurostat office reported Friday. Also in the lead were the Lubuskie, Zachodniopomorskie and Warminsko-Mazurskie provinces.The EU's average unemployment in 2004 stood between 2.4 percent in Britain and 24.9 in Poland. Poland also tops the list of countries with the biggest number of high-unemployment regions (9), before Germany (6), France (4) and Slovakia (2).

Ministry: 1998-2003 Poland's employment slump biggest in EU

Warsaw, Oct. 7: 1998-2003 saw the biggest slump in employment and a record rise of the jobless rate in Poland compared to other EU member states, according to a report "Employment in Poland 2005" published by the economy and labour ministry on Friday. According to the report, in 1998-2003 employment fell 11 percent in Poland compared to the "old" EU members and by 9 percent compared to the "new" member states. The situation began to improve in 2004. The present employment index is 13 percent lower in Poland than in the old EU states and 9 percent lower than in the new EU states. According to the ministry's analysts, the labour market slump in 1998-2003 was caused by the Russian crisis in 1998 and by economic slow-down in 2001 and 2002. Other negative factors included features of Polish employees, average quality of human capital caused by low education level, inappropriate structure of higher education with too few science students, early pension system, low retirement age for women. The authors of the report identified liberalisation of the labour code as a positive factor for the labour market.

Poland bans Romanian, Turkish poultry

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Poland has put an import ban on poultry from Romania and Turkey after rumours that avian flu had appeared in both countries. Poland's chief veterinarian Krzysztof Jazdzewski said on Sunday that the rumours were still unconfirmed but added that a crisis team would meet in Warsaw Monday to discuss the reports. He added that due to Romania's closeness it would be extremely dangerous for Poland if the disease were discovered there.

Poles happier and healthier

Warsaw, Oct. 9: Poles are happier and healthier than in the early 1990s, 74 percent in a social moods survey of 3,868 households declaring they were pleased with their lives (57 pct in the 90s). Survey author sociologist Janusz Czapinski told reporters that Poles were most pleased about rising safety and most dissatisfied with their sexual lives, marriage and the general situation in the country. Poles are also healthier than they were in the previous decade,

largely due to the rising number of non-smokers.An alarming phenomenon is rising alcohol and drug usage among the young, especially girls under 18. One in four of those polled declared the wish to work abroad (41 pct in Germany, 26 pct in Britain, 7 pct in Ireland).

Most Poles approve organ transplants

Warsaw, Oct. 7: Eighty-seven percent of Poles in a CBOS survey approved organ transplants from deceased donors, only 7 percent were against. 74 percent said they would agree for their organs to be transplanted after their death (8 pts below the 2003 result), 17 percent opposed the idea. Although the church approves of organ transplants from deceased donors, as much as one-fifth of the pollees said this ran contrary to Catholic lore, 63 percent claimed the opposite. 44 percent said donor consent was the best legal regulation regarding organ transplants, 38 percent spoke out for treating the lack of donor objections to transplants as consent. CBOS ran the poll from 14-18 September 2005 on a random sample of 1,028 adult Poles.

posted by: Oborski at 14:17 | link | comments |