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Poland Starts Probe Into Allegations of Illegal Phone-Hacking
  + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +3 min
"Our work in the investigative commission will cause not only an earthquake, but also a tsunami." PiS say the changes are a political witchhunt and that it always acted legally. I'm sure that every surveillance conducted by secret services was accepted and ordered by court," former Deputy Justice Minister Sebastian Kaleta said. However, Polish media have recently reported that the spyware may have also been used against PiS politicians, news that if proved true could strain lawmakers loyalties. "It seems to me that this may be, unfortunately, a trial by fire that (PiS) won't necessarily pass," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at Warsaw University.
Persons: Witold Zembaczynski, Jacek Karnowski, Sebastian Kaleta, Anna Materska, Jaroslaw, Kaczynski, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak, William Maclean Organizations: Monday, Pegasus, Civic Coalition, Associated Press, Warsaw University Locations: WARSAW, Israel
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that Republican senators in the United States should be ashamed for blocking a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, saying former U.S. President Ronald Reagan would be "turning in his grave". Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a bipartisan effort to bolster border security that had taken months to negotiate, but said they could still approve aid for Ukraine, and Israel, that had been tied up in the deal. "Dear Republican Senators of America. Ronald Reagan, a Republican, was the 40th president of the United States, holding the role from 1981 to 1989. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesU.S. Republicans for months have insisted that any additional U.S. aid to Ukraine, and Israel, must also address the high numbers of migrants arriving at the U.S-Mexico border - a top voter concern.
Persons: Donald Tusk, Ronald Reagan, Tusk, Ukraine's, Donald Trump, Trump, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: Polish, U.S . Senate, Wednesday, Ukraine, Republican, U.S, Republicans, Kyiv Locations: WARSAW, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Israel, Poland, Russia, Soviet Union, Mexico
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's president said he was unsure if Ukraine would be able to regain control over Russian-occupied Crimea but believed it could retake Donetsk and Luhansk, in comments that drew criticism from politicians from the ruling coalition. However, when asked if he believed Ukraine would really be able to retake Crimea, he said, "It is hard for me to answer that question. "I don't know if (Ukraine) will regain Crimea, but I believe it will regain Donetsk and Luhansk," he said. Ukraine has vowed to recover every inch of its territory including Crimea in the war with Russia. "He answered directly to the question about Ukraine regaining Crimea by saying that he didn't know," Fogiel wrote on X.
Persons: Kyiv's staunchest, Andrzej Duda, Duda's, Mr Duda, Radoslaw Fogiel, Fogiel, Alan Charlish, Mark Heinrich Organizations: YouTube, European, Law and Justice, Civic Coalition Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Warsaw, Russia, Moscow, Poland
By Antoni SlodkowskiDAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Poland's new government is looking into how it can make more ammunition and military equipment as it works on a new aid package for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Davos on Wednesday. "We're examining what options we have of making more ammunition and equipment and also what we still have in our stores." Sikorski's remarks indicated Warsaw is looking into ways to produce more ammunition and military hardware to be able to send more military aid to Kyiv. Sikorski acknowledged that Ukraine and Poland, which is a member of both the EU and NATO, must keep working on resolving challenges. Sikorski said Poland was "back from a faraway trip into populism" after eight years of PiS in power.
Persons: Antoni Slodkowski, Radoslaw Sikorski, Sikorski, Sikorski's, Mr Putin, he'd, Polish hauliers, PiS, Alan Charlish, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Wednesday, European Union, Ukrainian hauliers, Kyiv, Reuters, Economic, Law and Justice, TRUCKERS Sikorski, EU, NATO Locations: Antoni Slodkowski DAVOS, Switzerland, Ukraine, Davos, Warsaw, European, Swiss, Polish, Poland, U.S
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's parliament has voted to remove the immunity from prosecution of a lawmaker who used a fire extinguisher to put out Jewish Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament in December, an incident that caused international outrage. The vote opens the way for prosecutors to press charges against Grzegorz Braun from the far-right Confederation party for seven acts committed during 2022 and 2023, including the incident involving the candles. The largest opposition party, the nationalist law and Justice (PiS), also voted in favour of removing Braun's immunity. After extinguishing the candles in the parliament on Dec. 12, Braun took to the podium where he described Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality". Asked later if he was ashamed of his action, he said: "Those who take part in acts of satanic worship should be ashamed."
Persons: Grzegorz Braun, Agnieszka Pomaska, Mariusz Dubowski, Braun, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, Warsaw, European Union Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine
The two members of the former Law and Justice (PiS) government - of which President Andrzej Duda is an ally - announced they were going on a hunger strike after their imprisonment. It couldn't immediately be determined which court Duda was referring to, and the order could not immediately be confirmed by Reuters. PiS has sought to portray Kaminski and Wasik as political prisoners, a description that has been rejected by the government and human rights activists. "Today I received information from the wife of Mariusz Kaminski that... a court order has been made that he should be force-fed," Duda told reporters at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. In that case, lawyers questioned whether Duda had the power to pardon Kaminski before an appeals court issued a final ruling.
Persons: Mariusz Kaminski, Maciej Wasik, Andrzej Duda, Duda, PiS, Kaminski, Wasik, Bodnar, Adam Bodnar, Donald Tusk, Alan Charlish, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Law, Justice, Reuters, European Union, Economic Locations: WARSAW, Warsaw, Swiss, Davos
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish truckers who have blockaded some border crossings with Ukraine since November have reached an agreement on "certain conditions" with the government and will suspend their protest on Wednesday at 1100 GMT, an organiser said. Polish drivers had been demanding that the EU reinstate a system whereby Ukrainian companies need permits to operate in the bloc and the same for European truckers entering Ukraine. "We agreed certain conditions, we will give the government time to work as it is a new government." Poland's infrastructure ministry has organised a press conference for 1100 GMT on Tuesday during which an agreement is due to be signed. Polish farmers decided to suspend a protest at the border crossing with Ukraine at Medyka after the government agreed to their demands earlier this month.
Persons: Tomasz Borkowski, Alan Charlish, Karol Badohal, Nick Macfie Organizations: Transport Employers Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine, Medyka
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's justice minister acted illegally in dismissing state prosecutor Dariusz Barski, a top presidential aide said on Monday, opening a new front in the conflict between the head of state and the new government. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar has been tasked with unpicking policies of the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government which critics say increased political influence over the judicial system. "The actions of the justice minister are illegal," Marcin Mastalerek, the head of Duda's office, told private broadcaster Radio Zet. "The president says directly that Mr Barski is the state prosecutor and today - it seems that this meeting has started - that is what he will tell the prosecutor," Mastalerek said. Bodnar said he had given Jacek Bilewicz the responsibilities of state prosecutor on an interim basis while a selection process for a permanent replacement takes place.
Persons: Dariusz Barski, Adam Bodnar, Andrzej Duda, Marcin Mastalerek, Barski, Zbigniew Ziobro, Mastalerek, Duda, Donald Tusk, Bodnar, PiS, Jacek Bilewicz, Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Ros Russell Organizations: Law and Justice, Union, Radio Zet Locations: WARSAW, Poland
[1/3] Polish trucks are parked as they block crossings at the Ukrainian border near the village of Hrebenne, Poland November 19, 2023. The Polish hauliers' central demand is to stop Ukrainian truckers having permit-free access to the EU, something that Kyiv and Brussels say is impossible. Jan Buczek, head of Poland's main trucker business association, said Kyiv was showing no readiness to compromise and was creating obstacles for EU truckers operating in Ukraine. POLISH POLITICAL TRANSITIONThe Polish truckers say they will continue protesting until their demands are met and want more engagement from politicians from Poland's main political parties. The Federation of Employers of Ukraine, an industry lobby group, has estimated direct losses to the economy at around 400 million euros ($437 million).
Persons: Yan, hauliers, Taras Kachka, Kachka, it's, Vitaliy Vavryshchuk, Taras Vysotskiy, Serhiy Derkach, Derkach, Jan Buczek, Donald Tusk, Kromberg, Schubert, Olena Makarchuk, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Mike Collett Organizations: REUTERS, Union, Reuters, EU, Justice, Federation, Employers of, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Hrebenne, Poland, Ukraine, KYIV, Kyiv, Brussels, Goods, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine's Zhytomyr, Employers of Ukraine, Warsaw
[1/2] FILE PHOTO:Ukrainian trucks are parked near the Poland-Ukraine border, near the village of Korczowa, Poland November 19, 2023. Polish truckers have already been blocking access to three other border crossings since Nov. 6, demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and military supplies. The current waiting time for trucks to cross at Medyka, one of eight road border crossings with Ukraine, is 127 hours according to data from the Polish border guard. In Medyka truckers are joining a protest organised by farmers who are demanding that government support to help them deal with low grain prices be continued. Two trucks per hour are being let through at Medyka, the protesters say, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and war supplies.
Persons: Yan, Tomasz Borkowski, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Transport Employers, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry, Thomson Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Korczowa, Polish, European, Russia, Russian, Medyka
[1/2] Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during the first session of the newly elected Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Poland's president will on Monday swear in members of a government that will likely only last until December, in what opposition parties say is a "farce" intended to delay them from taking power after they won a majority in an October election. "The point is that there should not be too many politicians in this government," he told state-run news agency PAP. The prime minister has vowed to implement the policy proposals of opposition parties in a bid to persuade them to work with him. Opposition parties accuse the government of stalling tactics designed to cover up evidence of wrongdoing during their time in power.
Persons: Mateusz Morawiecki, Kacper, Andrzej Duda, Mariusz Blaszczak, Jacek Sasin, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, PiS, Marcin Kierwinski, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Ed Osmond Organizations: Polish, REUTERS, Rights, and Justice, Pro, European Union, Union, liberal Civic Coalition, Radio Zet, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish truckers and farmers started a round-the-clock blockade of access on Monday to Medyka, one of the busiest border crossings with Ukraine, extending a protest that has left thousand of lorries stranded for days in queues that stretch for miles. Polish truckers have already been blocking access to three other border crossings since Nov. 6, demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and military supplies. The current waiting time for trucks to cross at Medyka, one of eight road border crossings with Ukraine, is 127 hours according to data from the Polish border guard. In Medyka truckers are joining a protest organised by farmers who are demanding that government support to help them deal with low grain prices be continued. Two trucks per hour are being let through at Medyka, the protesters say, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and war supplies.
Persons: Tomasz Borkowski, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: European Union, Transport Employers, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine, Polish, European, Russia, Russian, Poland, Medyka
The EPPO is an independent public prosecution office of the European Union which deals with cases affecting the bloc's financial interests. Asked to comment on reports that he will become justice minister, Bodnar said, "There are such discussions, but nothing is certain. "For the European Public Prosecutor's Office, joining only requires a letter from the prime minister," he said. He said that he hoped EPPO prosecutors would come to Poland and investigate instances of alleged misuse of EU funds in public institutions such as the National Centre of Research and Development (NCBR). "Most investigations should be done by Polish prosecutors," Bodnar said.
Persons: Adam Bodnar, Kacper, Bodnar, Donald Tusk, Andrzej Duda, PiS, Zbigniew Ziobro, Alan Charlish, Nick Macfie Organizations: Human Rights, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Public Prosecutor's, European Union, and Justice, liberal Civic Coalition, Human, Public, Office, National Centre of Research, Development, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Brussels, Polish
[1/7] Polish President Andrzej Duda arrives for the first session of the newly elected Polish parliament in Warsaw, Poland November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Poland's parliament meets for the first time on Monday since an election in which an alliance of pro-European Union parties won a majority, heralding a new start for Polish politics. He would serve until 2025 when, under a coalition agreement, the role would pass to Wlodzimierz Czarzasty of the New Left. Monday's parliamentary session could also provide a glimpse of the challenges the coalition may face maintaining unity. The opposition said in its coalition agreement that it would invalidate the ruling.
Persons: Andrzej Duda, Kacper, Mateusz Morawiecki, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Szymon Holownia, Wlodzimierz, PiS, Piotr Muller, Krzysztof Smiszek, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Justice, Civic Coalition, Third Way, New, TVN, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Republic of Poland
British Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The British arm of defence firm MBDA has signed a 4 billion pound ($4.92 billion) deal to supply Poland with ground-based air defence systems, the British government said on Tuesday. Britain's Ministry of Defence said the partnership would boost Poland's Narew air defence programme and help bolster European security amid the conflict in Ukraine. "This is another crucial step forward for our historic defence ties with Poland, supplying next generation air defence capabilities to act as a clear deterrent to our adversaries," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said. The air defence system would be able to launch missiles at air threats such as cruise missiles and fighter jets at ranges of more than 40 kilometres, the ministry said.
Persons: Defence Grant Shapps, Hannah McKay, MBDA, Grant Shapps, Mariusz Blaszczak, Italy's Leonardo, Sachin Ravikumar, Alan Charlish, William James Our Organizations: State, Defence, REUTERS, Britain's Ministry of Defence, British, Airbus, Britain's BAE Systems, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, Poland, Ukraine, Poland's
Polish president to announce new PM on Monday - aide
  + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks as he attends the military parade on Armed Forces Day, celebrated annually on August 15 to commemorate Poland's victory over the Soviet Union's Red Army in 1920, in Warsaw, Poland, August 15, 2023. President Andrzej Duda, an ally of PiS, said before the election he would give the first shot at forming a government to the largest single party. "After consultations and deep consideration, President Andrzej Duda has made a decision regarding the so-called first step (of appointing a government). Despite all the other parties in parliament ruling out a coalition with PiS, Morawiecki has said he still intends to try and form a government. If Morawiecki were tasked by Duda with forming a government but proved unable to win a vote of confidence in parliament, the chamber would then appoint another prime minister.
Persons: Andrzej Duda, Kacper, PiS, Marcin Mastalerek, Duda, Donald Tusk, Marcin Kierwinski, PiS's Mateusz, Tusk, Morawiecki, Pawel Jablonski, Anna Wlodarczak, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Gareth Jones Organizations: Armed Forces, Soviet Union's Red Army, REUTERS, Rights, Justice, Union, Civic Coalition, European Council, Radio Zet, PiS, RMF, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Polish
[1/5] FILE PHOTO:Anthropologist from Nicolas Copernicus University Urszula Okularczyk works by the remains of a woman found at the 17th century cemetery for rejected people in Pien, at Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun, Poland, October 27, 2023. "These are people who, if it was done intentionally, were afraid of ... contact with these people because they might bite, drink blood," Polinski said. The child's grave was desecrated at some point after burial and all bones removed apart from those in the legs. Archaeologists have found other methods used to stop the living dead, with Polinski describing strange practices found in some burials. Reporting by Thomas Holdstock and Hedy Beloucif; Writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Nicolas, Nicolas Copernicus University Urszula, padlocked, Dariusz Polinski, Polinski, Thomas Holdstock, Hedy Beloucif, Alan Charlish, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Nicolas Copernicus University, Thomson Locations: Pien, Torun, Poland
Polish bishop resigns after priestly sex party scandal
  + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
WARSAW, Oct 24 (Reuters) - A Polish bishop, whose diocese was reportedly the scene of a sex party organised by priests at which Polish media say a male prostitute collapsed after taking erectile dysfunction pills, has resigned, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The statement did not give a reason for the resignation of Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, saying only that the pope had accepted it. According to Polish media reports, a male prostitute collapsed at the party after taking too many erectile dysfunction pills. The priest who hosted the party in his apartment, named as Tomasz Z, was eventually dismissed, according to the state-run news agency PAP. The diocese said his behaviour was "a cause of great scandal for the faithful and justified indignation of public opinion", PAP reported.
Persons: Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, Kaszak, Tomasz Z, Alan Charlish, Alvise Armellini, David Holmes Organizations: Gazeta Wyborcza, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Kaszak's, Poland, Dabrowa Gornicza, Warsaw, Rome
Sputnik/Grigory Sysoyev/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The United States is concerned about Hungary's relationship with Russia, and finds Prime Minister Viktor Orban's decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin "troubling", the U.S. Embassy in Budapest said on Friday. He is the only EU leader to attend the forum or to maintain close ties with Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. "The United States is concerned about Hungary’s relationship with Russia," U.S. Orban told Putin during their meeting in Beijing that Hungary never wanted to oppose Russia and was trying to salvage bilateral contacts. Relations between Budapest and Washington have soured in the past year because of Hungary's foot-dragging over the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession.
Persons: Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, Grigory Sysoyev, Viktor Orban's, Orban, Putin, Hungary David Pressman, Pressman, Balazs Orban, Boldizsar Gyori, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Hungarian, Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, U.S, Embassy, Putin, NATO, Radio Free, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, United States, Russia, Budapest, Ukraine, Hungary, Sweden, Moscow, Washington, NATO
Polish president to consult with party leaders on forming govt
  + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Poland's President Andrzej Duda prepares to cast his ballot during the parliamentary election in Krakow, Poland, October 15, 2023. "The meetings will be held separately with each of the election committees, in the order in accordance with the results achieved by these committees in the elections." Duda said before the vote that he would give the first shot at forming a cabinet to the group or party that won most ballots. "The president knows his responsibilities and will not give in to pressure," aide Malgorzata Paprocka told Rzeczpospolita daily. This means the process of forming a new government in Poland, the largest country in the EU's eastern wing, could take weeks or even months.
Persons: Andrzej Duda, Jakub Porzycki, Wyborcza.pl, Duda, Michal Kobosko, Duda's, Malgorzata Paprocka, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Law and Justice, Rzeczpospolita, Thomson Locations: Krakow, Poland, Brussels, Republic of Poland
Freeze! Polish cops snag thief who pretended to be mannequin
  + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
WARSAW, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A Polish man has been arrested after he pretended to be a mannequin in front of a store window before stealing from a shopping centre after it closed, police in Warsaw said. "A 22-year-old with a bag in his hand froze motionless, pretending to be a mannequin in front of a shop window," police said in a statement. After the shopping centre closed the man on one occasion robbed a jewellery stand, according to police. According to police, the man is also accused of stealing from another shopping centre, where they allege he took money from cash tills and tried to steal other items after it closed. Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Alan Charlish, Alex Richardson Organizations: Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Warsaw
Leader of Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party Jaroslaw Kaczynski, holds flowers during a speech after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party was ahead in a national election, an late exit poll showed on Monday, although it would fall short of a majority. The IPSOS late poll publish by Polsat News gave PiS 36.6% of votes, while the liberal Civic Coalition (KO) was in second place with 31% the centre-right Third Way was third with 13.5%, New Left had 8.6% and the far-right Confederation were on 6.4%. Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz and Alan CharlishOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Aleksandra Szmigiel, Pawel Florkiewicz, Alan Charlish Organizations: Law, Justice, REUTERS, Rights, Polsat News, liberal Civic Coalition, New, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland
Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), speaks after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. A late Ipsos exit poll published early on Monday gave PiS 36.6% of the vote, which would translate into 198 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house of parliament. RECORD TURNOUTThe late exit poll had been delayed, and some commentators linked this to a record turnout of nearly 73%, the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. Tusk, 66, was jubilant following the announcement of the first exit poll results on Sunday. This is the end of the PiS government," he told party members.
Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, Tusk, Donald Tusk's, Cezary Tomczyk, Andrzej Duda, Duda, Mateusz Morawiecki, Joachim Brudzinski, Brudzinski, Wladysław Kosiniak, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Lidia Kelly, Alan Charlish, Shri Navaratnam, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, EU WARSAW, European Union, Law, Justice, European, EU, TVN, Polish Peasants's Party, Local, Democracy, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Brussels, Europe, Wrocław, Gdansk, Melbourne
Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), speaks after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. The incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) party has repeatedly clashed with the European Union over the rule of law, media freedom, migration and LGBT rights since it swept to power in 2015. An Ipsos exit poll published early on Monday gave PiS 36.6% of the vote, which would translate into 198 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house of parliament. On Monday, Duda urged patience until the full election results were known. However, with the far-right Confederation seen winning just 6.4%, below expectations, according to the exit poll, PiS will struggle to forge a new government.
Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, Donald Tusk's, Tusk, Lee Hardman, Andrzej Duda, Duda, PiS, Wladyslaw Kosiniak, Kamysz, beholden, Iga Frackiewicz, Lidia Kelly, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, EU, Justice, European Union, European, Polish Peasants ' Party, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, WARSAW, Brussels, Europe, Polish, Wrocław, Gdansk, Melbourne
WARSAW, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Police cordoned off Warsaw's Pilsudski Square and the surrounding area of the Polish capital on Saturday, with local media reporting that a man had climbed onto a monument in the square and threatened to blow himself up. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that at around 1130 GMT the man surrendered to police. Its footage showed him climbing down from the monument, taking off his jacket and walking away with his hands in the air. PAP said several hundred officers were involved in an operation around the square. A guest at the Sofitel hotel, which faces the square, said they had been told to only leave the building by the back exit.
Persons: Lech Kaczynski, Maria, Thomas Holdstock, Kuba Stezycki, Alan Charlish, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper, Mark Potter Organizations: Police, Polsat, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Smolensk
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