Competence and intelligence are the most desired attributes of a president, shows a new survey ahead of the June 20 elections in Poland.

Other highly valued features are patriotism, sensitivity to social issues, firmness, and commitment to one’s principles, finds the survey by Millward Brown SMG/KRC.

Next in line are: a pro-European stance, charisma, willingness to reach compromise, non-partisanship, followed by appearance and religiousness.

The respondents were also asked to attribute different traits to the five main presidential candidates. The results showed a correspondence between the above positive features and the popularity of the contenders. Civic Platform candidate Bronisław Komorowski, leading in the polls, is competent according to 54 percent and intelligent according to 60 percent of respondents. His main rival Jarosław Kaczyński, from the Law and Justice party, is believed to manifest competence and intelligence according by 35 and 47 percent respectively.

The two top candidates have distinctive features that set them apart from the other presidential hopefuls, claim those surveyed. Kaczyński is predominantly seen as religious and patriotic, while Komorowski is perceived as having a good image and pro-European attitude.

Meanwhile, as far as the traits that are lacking in the two politicians are concerned, few of the respondents pointed to political independence of the Civic Platform candidate (23 percent), while the Law and Justice contender was rarely indicated as an independent politician (19 percent), boasting a good image (18 percent).

Considered the most competent of the remaining contenders is Andrzej Olechowski, who is also regarded as the most intelligent. He is followed by Grzegorz Napieralski, from the Democratic Left Alliance, and Waldemar Pawlak, from the Polish Peasants’ Party, respectively. (ab/pg)

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