All Thursday editions of Polish papers are filled in abundance with stories related to the US presidential elections.

Presented by Slawek Szefs

‘Obameryka!’ is the headline in GAZETA WYBORCZA, which stresses the change in attitude towards racial issues and equal rights among American society. The newspaper’s correspondent quotes the first street reactions in Chicago, the seat of the victorious Democratic runner for the presidency. Forty years ago, said a jubilant young woman, when a white assassin shot Martin Luther King I was still in my mother’s womb. She was terribly afraid, there were riots breaking out. And now, Barack Obama is president! A bare forty years later. Gazeta Wyborcza also prints results of a survey it commissioned among Poles to find out about their attitude to the US president elect. A great majority in the seventy and eighty percent brackets consider Barack Obama’s age, race and declared departure from Bush policies to be a positive factor. Their enthusiasm is lesser when asked about improvement in Polish-US relations. Only 54%, if that’s the right description, of Poles think Obama will do better in this sphere than outgoing president Bush.

In a frontpage commentary, DZIENNIK writes that a new America has emerged before our eyes with this year’s election Tuesday gaining its place and importance in history next to the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War with its abolition of slavery and finally the victory of the equality movement initiated by Martin Luther King leading to the eradication of racial segregation in the South.

RZECZPOSPOLITA writes ‘Americans have chosen Obama’ pointing to the wide margin of victory scored by the Democratic candidate. Of no small importance is also the fact that Barack Obama’s party crushed the Republicans in the vote for Congress. Tonight the American people have spoken in a clear manner, the daily quotes the losing contender John McCain.

‘Good luck Mr. President!’ is how the tabloid FAKT welcomes the new man in the White House. It assures that Poland, as the most trustworthy ally of the United States, is keeping its fingers crossed for Barack Obama’s presidency, which will not be an easy one. Many Americans have suffered due to the financial crisis, while the effects of recession are flowing over from the US and spreading across Europe. Much will depend now on President Obama how fast the world shall overcome this crisis. Poland hopes that while coping with all the problems Barack Obama will not forget about his country’s allies. After all, in recent talks with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during the presidential campaign he promised to visit Poland next year, FAKT reminds its readers.