Poland’s former President Aleksander Kwaśniewski (right) has expressed hope that the election campaign in Poland will be conducted in an atmosphere of restraint, out of respect to those who died in the Smolensk air disaster.

Talking to Polish reporters in Washington, Mr Kwasniewski stressed, however, that any predictions as to will win the June 20 ballot are risky considering that never in the past has there been such a close link between election campaign and a tragedy experienced by the whole nation. 

He added, though, that the atmosphere of national mourning should not disturb the normal democratic process.

“I trust that Poles will be able to respect the memory of the dead and at the same time compare the policy programmes and personalities of the candidates for the highest office in the state,” he told journalists.

Asked about the candidature of Jaroslaw Kaczyński, the late president’s twin brother, Mr Kwasniewski said: “Much will depend on the tone that he will set for his campaign. If he displays restrain, the election campaign will be restrained too. I do not want to pass any judgment at this stage because we are at the beginning of the road.”

The two frontrunners in the presidential race are parliamentary speaker Bronislaw Komorowski of the Civic Platform and Jaroslaw Kaczyński of the opposition Law and Justice. (mk/pg)