Polish President concedes election to challenger: exit pollsMay 25, 2015 - 08:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded the election to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls. They suggested Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%, BBC News reports. Duda had edged Komorowski, who had been the favorite, in the first round but did not gain the 50% needed to win outright. The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws. The exit polls had been delayed after a woman died at a polling station on Sunday. Official results are expected later on Monday, May 25. "I respect your choice," Komorowski told voters at a gathering of his supporters. "I wish my challenger a successful presidency." Speaking to supporters in Warsaw, Duda said: "Thank you President Bronislaw Komorowski for the rivalry of this presidential campaign and for your congratulations. Those who voted for me voted for change. Together we can change Poland." The victory will be a wake-up call to Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, an ally of Komorowski, ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn. Komorowski, 62, took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash. Komorowski had been the favorite according to previous opinion polls and had been looking for a second term. Duda, 43, is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Kaczynski's twin brother, Jaroslaw. In the first round Duda attracted most support in the more conservative eastern regions of the country, near the border with Ukraine and Belarus. Photo: Nto.pl Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |