Komorowski win strengthens government's hand

[July 05, 2010]  WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Bronislaw Komorowski's near-certain victory in Poland's presidential election has strengthened his party's hold on power ahead of parliamentary elections next year.

Full final results of the election are due later Monday but with 95 percent of the votes counted Komorowski -- of the governing Civic Platform party -- has 52.63 percent of the vote and opposition candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski 47.37 percent.

The presidential election had to be held several months early after President Lech Kaczynski -- Jaroslaw's twin brother -- was killed in a plane crash in April.

Parliament speaker Komorowski's win ends a situation in which Prime Minister Donald Tusk faced frequent vetos from an opposition-aligned president.

Tusk's government faces elections next year.

[Associated Press]

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