21 Jun 2010

Poland presidential election inconclusive - polls

8:42 am on 21 June 2010

A run-off election in Poland appears likely, as exit polls in suggest no candidate in the presidential election gained enough votes for outright victory.

The election was held after the death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in April.

Polls gave acting president Bronislaw Komorowski up to 46% of the vote, short of the 50% needed for an outright win, he BBC reports.

The late president's twin brother, Jaroslaw Kaczynski was in second place, with 36%, according to the polls.

Mr Kaczynski and 95 others died in the crash in Smolensk in western Russia on 10 April.

The dead included many of Poland's political and military leaders.

The BBC reports the disaster has overshadowed the election campaign, making it one of the least aggressive ever.

A run-off election would be held on 4 July if no winner was found.