If the parliamentary elections were held at the beginning of May, the ruling centre-right Civic Platform (PO) party would receive 31.3 per cent of the vote, with the main opposition party just five percentage points behind.

The conservative Law and Justice (PiS) would receive 26.1 percent, according to a survey carried out for Polish Radio by the Homo Homini Institute.

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) would receive 18 percent, ahead of the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) the junior partner in the present ruling coalition, with 7.6 percent.

Fifty nine percent of the 1067 respondents who were asked about their views over the telephone said they would take part in the elections.

A new parliament is to be elected in the autumn, the second half of October being the most probable date. (mk/pg)