Poles face long lines, limits on coronavirus in presidential vote

People queue outside a polling station during the presidential election in Warsaw

WARSAW (Reuters) – Poles stood in the long lines to vote in a close-fought presidential election on Sunday that could reshape Poland's tense relationship with the European Union and the socially conservative agenda of ruling nationalists.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the ballot takes place seven weeks later than originally scheduled, although Poland has had relatively few cases and deaths.

Poland's electoral commission apologised on Sunday for the restrictions at polling stations to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, which include wearing masks, maintaining social distance and asking voters to bring their own pens.

"The pandemic is independent of election commissions, but the introduction of sanitary rigors means a reduction in the speed at which you can vote," said Sylwester Marciniak, head of the National Electoral Commission of Poland.

Many Poles abroad looking for a postal ballot said they didn't get their voting slips in time for voting.

"It's a shame that not everyone was given their (election) package on time as a result of the pandemic," tweeted Poland's Ambassador to Britain Arkady Rzegocki.

Incumbent Andrzej Duda, 48, has vowed to maintain the economic programs of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which include generous social spending and a commitment to protect family values in the predominantly Catholic country.

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"We don't see the same standard of living as in Western Europe and that's what I'd like to achieve," Duda said on Friday in Rybnik 's southwestern town during one of his last pre-election campaign stops.

His main challenger, the centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, also 48, seeks to provide a progressive alternative and to combat the isolation of Poland in the EU after five years of government-Brussels conflict.

Trzaskowski as mayor has proposed sex education programs in line with recommendations for schools by the World Health Organization, a move criticized by the PiS as an effort to sexualize children.

Poland’s presidential election in Warsaw

CLASH OF VALUES

The European Commission, the EU executive, has launched an unprecedented legal action against Warsaw since the PiS came to power in 2015, following criticism that Poland is subverting democratic norms by making its courts politicised.

Poland’s presidential election in Warsaw

If Duda fails to secure a second five-year mandate, his successor may hamper the ability of the government to deepen its reforms of justice by vetoing laws or refusing to appoint judges selected by PiS allies.

This would probably fuel tensions within the fragile parliamentary coalition of the PiS, and could force the government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to rule as a minority cabinet. Can not be ruled out from an early national election.

Closing polling stations by 9.00 p.m. (1900 GMT) Upon publication of exit polls. If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the votes, the two with the largest share will compete on July 12 in a second round.