Poland faces pivotal election

The right-wing Law and Justice and centre-right Civic Platform face a high-stakes election to determine Poland’s stance on the economy, soaring budget deficit, EU relations, and access to abortion


37% SUPPORT

Law and Justice party: In government since 2015, Jarosław Kaczyński (above) and PiS-led coalition are at odds with EU over policies that politicise judicial system, silence critics in public media, fan homophobia and anti-immigration stance, plus near-total abortion ban

Pledge to increase flagship child subsidy programme by 60% to 800 zlotys (€173) per month per child


30%

Civic Platform (PO): Centre-right party, led by former European Council President Donald Tusk (above), is pro-European. Pledges to bring back possibility of terminating pregnancies up until
12 weeks, and end use of coal for electricity production by 2040

Policies include raising tax-free earnings limit to 60,000 zlotys (€12,960), pay rises for teachers and other public sector workers, and state funding for IVF treatment


10%

Confederation: Far-right party, led by Krzysztof Bosak (above), could become third-place kingmaker. Anti-establishment party has surged in polls with calls to simplify and lower taxes, ban abortion, liberalise access to firearms and weaken support for Ukraine


Oct 15: Referendum on migration, sale of state companies, raising retirement age, and fence on Belarus border to be held on election day
         

Sources: Politico poll of polls, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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