- Title: Poles vote in droves as presidential vote reveals divisions
- Date: 12th July 2020
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (JULY 12, 2020) (REUTERS) ELDERLY MAN CASTING BALLOT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION ELDERLY WOMAN WITH PRIORITY (DUE TO AGE) SKIPPING QUEUE TO ENTER POLLING STATION PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION VOTER WAITING IN LINE, WEARING PROTECTIVE GLOVES AND HOLDING PEN WOMAN PUTTING ON GLOVES AS SHE STANDS IN LINE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PENSIONER, IWONA ROZANSKA, SAYING: "This election is important because the change needs to come to Poland. Why? Because the constitution of our country is not followed. Therefore, the president who will be chosen today will be different and there should be a change for the better, for the rule of law, for democracy." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) 35-YEAR-OLD LECTURER, BARBARA KRATIUK, SAYING: "For me, this election is the answer (to a question) on what kind of Poland we want to have. Do we want Poland which is open, tolerant and which will also be a player on the international stage." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) 62-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER, WITOLD GULCZ, SAYING: "(This election) is important for many reasons, even the aesthetic ones." JOURNALIST ASKING: Why? "Because one is pretty and the other one is not." JOURNALIST ASKING: "And on the political side?" "On the political side, we will see. To be honest, in this country, according to the constitution, the president is only (responsible) for the army and representing us." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION WOMAN HAVING PICTURE TAKEN AT ENTRANCE TO POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 26th July 2020 15:02
- Keywords: Andrzej Duda Poland Polish election Polish politics Rafal trzaskowski polling stations voting day
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA003CMI7RD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Poles were voting in droves on Sunday (July 12) in a knife-edge presidential election, which sees the incumbent and ruling conservatives' ally Andrzej Duda facing off against liberal challenger Rafal Trzaskowski.
Turnout at 1000 GMT was 24.73%, slightly higher than at the same time during the first round and more than seven percentage points higher than in the last presidential election in 2015.
Voters were queuing outside polling stations with longest lines forming in holiday resorts where a lot of Poles spend their holiday.
The election will determine if the government can deepen judicial reforms that the European Union says increase political control over the courts. The president holds the power of veto and Trzaskowski has promised that if he wins he will block legislation that he believes would undermine democratic norms.
Given that Poland's president holds few executive powers, it is unlikely Trzaskowski could bring about significant change if he won. But with the presidency as well as the upper house of parliament in opposition hands, PiS's ability to implement its agenda would be hampered.
Polling stations in the election, a run-off after the first round on June 28, close at 1900 GMT, at which point the results of an exit poll will be announced.
(Production: Kacper Pempel, Aleksandra Szmigiel, Malgorzata Wojtunik) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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