Polish conservative leader thanks voters, asks for more support

In an open letter posted by his governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jarosław Kaczyński thanked voters for their support at the ballot box at the end of last month, saying he was grateful for their confidence.

"It is thanks to you, thanks to all those who have placed their trust in us, that we achieved this very precious election win," he said in the letter, dated May 31 and posted by his party on its social media sites.

Kaczyński added that upcoming elections to Poland's own parliament in the autumn would be a key factor determining the country’s future as well as the future shape of his party’s policy of bringing “positive change” to the Polish people.

Kaczyński indicated that his party and its allies were eyeing an absolute majority in parliament, “over half the seats in the Sejm,” the lower house of Poland’s bicameral legislature.

He described such an outcome of the vote as "crucial" for the nation’s continued prosperity.

"That is why I'm asking you today to go to the polls in even greater numbers in the autumn and cast even more votes in support of Law and Justice," Kaczyński said.

He vowed his party aimed to "work even harder" in the future to improve the quality and standard of living for all Poles.

Kaczyński said at the end of last month that his grouping won Poland’s European Parliament ballot with the best showing for any party in any elections in the country since the collapse of communism in 1989.

The governing Law and Justice (PiS) party garnered 45.38 percent of the vote, while its arch-rival, the European Coalition alliance of opposition parties, scored 38.47 percent, according to official returns.

The vote on May 26 was a key test for Poland’s political parties ahead of national parliamentary elections in the autumn. Turnout was a record 45.68 percent.

(gs)

Source: TVP Info, IAR, PAP