At midnight tonight the deadline falls for candidates to hand in to the National Election Committee the 100,000 supporting signatures requited to stand in the June presidential elections, with some well known names in danger of not making the cut.

Last minute lists were handed in by Marek Jurek (Right Poland), Grzegorz Napieralski from the Democratic Left Alliance and deputy prime minister Waldemar Pawlak of the Polish Peasant’s Party.

Bronislaw Komorowski of Civic Platform and the late president's twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski (Law and Justice) well surpassed the required number of signatures. Unofficial information suggests that Kaczynski managed to collect 1.5 million names to support his bid to become head of state, in snap elections called after the Smolensk air disaster.

Olechowski in last minute dash for signatures - photo: east news

Some of the candidates have yet to collect the necessary amount of signatures, including three well known names - Andrzej Olechowski, Andrzej Lepper and Janusz Korwin-Mikke. Gabriel Janowski and Kornel Morawiecki also have yet to gather enough support.

The NEC will now check each application to see if his declaration has been made in accordance with the provisions of electoral law. (pg)