«Our Polish democracy has won», Komorowski said after exit poll results indicated his victory in Poland’s runoff presidential elections. The campaign had been especially difficult as it took place in the shadow of a national tragedy and in the aftermath of very serious floods. The results showed that the larger cities had mostly voted for Komorowski, a moderate who stressed in his campaign Poland’s need to accomplish the reform process and a proactive foreign policy, while smaller cities and rural areas voted largely for Kaczynski, who has more conservative social views and had emphasized traditional values in his campaign.
Poland has proved itself to be one of the most resilient countries to the global financial crisis, while emerging as a powerful country within the EU. The centre-right government, led by Tusk of the Civic Platform, faces a test now that it holds all the levers of state. Adopting a tough reform agenda is not politically remunerative as local elections will be held later this year and, more importantly, parliamentary elections in the fall of 2011 when Poland will hold the EU presidency. 2011 appears to be the year of truth for post-communist Poland. An opportunity that can change the country’s course once more.